The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-20
The Wonders or the Ocean,
DISCOVERIES MADE BY THE DEEP-sgA DR.

1
The wonders OF the Ocean.
DISCOVERIES MADE BY THE DEEP-sEA DREDG.
ERs on TUE EDGE OF THE GULF STREAM.
A correspondent writing from New
| Haven, Conn.,, saws: In the opinion OF Pro-
lessor A. Il. Verrill, OF Yale College, the
recent deep-sea dredging expedition off the
coast OF Rhode Island, on the edge OF the
| Gulf Stream, under the auspices Of the
United States Fish Commission. proved the
most successful ever sent out by this or any
other country. In three days more speci-
mems were obtained than by any other ex-
| petition In as many months. Indeed, the
| English expedition on the Challenger,
which was at work deep.sea dredging for
! FIVE years continuously, did not accomplish
more or get larger collection.
The dredging was done from 10 TO 115
miles south OF Newport, in the region
known on the charts as Block Island Sound.
ings, the depth OF the water being from one
quarter to three quarters OF a mile. The
specially. constructed steamer Fish Hawk,
fitted up with the most approved scientific
appliances, was used, and the expedition
was under the direct charge Of Professor
| Baird, OF Washington. The ground
was especially favorable. A peculiar
beam trawl was used for scraping
the bottom OF the ocean. 1t was net forty
or fifty feet long. The mouth Of it was
spread open by an oak beam fifteen feet
long and six inches in diameter. The beam
rested upon heavy iron runners, to keep
the network bag about two feet off Of the bot
tom. The lower side Of the mouth OF the
net was formed OF preceding rope, weight
ed with lead. This rope dragged along the
bottom, and scraped the shelltsb, shells, and
what not, into the net. Fish swimming at
that depth were also scooped in, and once
inside, they were entaDgled In pockets that
prevented their escaping. This trawl would
be thrown out and drawn along behind
the steamer, making swath half mile
long and twelve or fifteen wide. Then
powerful boisting-engine would be set TO
work and the trawl and its contents hoisted
aboard the steamer. AS many as 1000
pounds weight OF stuff would be taken
from the bottom OF the ocean each time the
traw was hOisted. Two barrels Of alcohol
a day were used in preserving rare speci-
mems. To put them in shape will be the
work of weeks. TO thoroughly arrange
and classify the thousands of specimens OH
tanned will OCCUPY the Commission all win
ter. Most of this work will be done here
by Professor Verrill and bis assistants.
Eighteen species OF fish were caught here
tofore unknown and undescribed, besides
others known to Greenland aud Northern
Europe, but not to our coast; also. WON
derlul variety of crabs, shrimp, and lobster
like creatures, some OF them very hand
some, and forty species OF them entirely
new. One hundred and ffty-tive different
kinds OF shells, one hundred and fifteen OF
them not before known on this part OF the
coast, tifty-fve not known as inhabitants OF
American waters, and thirty wholly un-
known to scientists heretofore, were OBJ
tained. In addition two new kinds OF devil
fish, one about a foot long; 200 specimens
of new and pretty squid, and 20 new
kinds of slarliSh were taken. or these STAR
fish, thousands OF specimens were netted,
some OF exceeding beauty. Quite num-
Der OF new species OF corals were caught,
some OF them being brought up by the
bushel. OF fan coral, some beautiful spoci-
mems were obtained. Hundreds Of sea ane-
mones, brilliantly colOred, some OF them
measuring a foot across, delighted the eyes
OF the men OF science. One strange dis
covery was a worm inhabiting quill like
q goose quill. The quilts were about foot
long, and soon after being taken out OF the
water grew so hard that they coHld be and
were used for pens. They stood up in the
mud at the bottom Of the sea. The worms
inside were opal colored. and when taken
out OF their strange tenements gllstened
and presented a rather pretty appearance,
so far as color was concerned. They were
raked up by thousands, and none OF the
scientific men ever heard OF them before.
The discovery was made that the tilefish
il plenlier than the cod. A Glou cester fish
erman last winter hauled in the first tiletsb.
Since then few have been caught. Pro-
fessor Verrill, however, caught three with
a perpendicular trawl line. On opening
their stomacbs he found therein some OF the
rare crustaces that abounded Whereabouts,
and he knew it was their feeding-ground.
He is satisfied that they are plentier
there in season than Goldfish off Block
Island. One of the three fish caught
weighed fifty pounds. The tilefish, rs de-
scrbed by Professor Verrill, is magnif-
cent fish. Of light yellow-brown color,
shaped like sea bass, and spotted all over
with yellow. 1t is fine eating, and he is
convinced that il is destined to become a
fayorlte market fish. now that 1t Is known
where il can be readily caught.
All OF the fish caught by the dredges have
gone to the headquarters OF the Commission
i'm Washington. The other specimens came
here in many boxes few days ago, and the
WOIk Ol thtn 10 wv"
ed forward. AS many as 100 series OF The
various specimens will be made up and dis
tributed among the museums Of the coun-
try, the first choice going to the National
Museum at Washington, the second to the
Peabody Museum here, the third TO the mu-
scum at Cambridge. and so on. A complete
and detailed report will also be made by the
Commission.
The records OF the temperature at differ
ent depths were always made with great
care. At depth Of from 100 to 1929 faith
oms the temperature was usually from 81
to $50 Fahrenheit. From 1929 TO 325 faith
oms it was from AZ to 43o, aud at 500 faith
oms IL was 400. The pressure at 500 faith
oms or over was very great-sufficient to
crush and press together the wood that en-
cased the thermometer until 1t was shape
less mass, and to so press the rope used to
lower the instrument that 1t came up hard
ened and squeezed together until 1t resem-
bled bar of metal.
In the nine years the Fish Commission
has been established 1t has dredged IN 1000
localities (botb shallow and deep waters),
between Long Island Sound and Halifax,
and out as far as 200 miles; but never be-
fore did they have such good luck as last
month on the Fish Hawk.