The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-02
The Wonders of the Ocean.

OF ale 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
specimens were obtained than by any
other expedition in as many months. In
deed the English expedition on the Chal-
lenger, which was at work deep-sea
dredging for FIVE years continuously, did
not accomplish more, or get a larger col
lection.
The dredging was done from IS to lis
miles south of Newport, in the region
known on the charts as Block Island
Soundings, 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 APP
proved scientific appliances, was used,
and the expedition was under the direct
charge of Prof. Baird of Washington.
The ground was especially favorable A
peculiar beam trawl was used for scrap
ing the bottom of the ocean. 1t was
net forty or fifty feet long. The mouth
OF 1T was spread open by an oak beam
fifteen feet long and six inches in diam
eter. The beam rested upon heavy iron
runners to keep the network bag about
two feet off of the bottom. The lower
side of the mouth of the net was formed
of recedipg rope, weighted with lead
This rope dragged along the bottom, and
scraped the shellish, shells, and what
not, into the net. Fish swimming at that
depth were also scooped in, and once in
side they were entangled in pockets that
prevented their escaping. This trawl
would be thrown out and drawn along
behind the steamer, mailing a swath half
mile long and twelve or fifteen feet
wide. Then powerful hosting 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 trawl was hoisted.
Two barrels of alcohol day were used
IN preserving rare specimens To put
them in shape will be the work of weeks.
10 thoroughly arrange and classify the
thousands of specimens obtained, will
occupy the Commission all winter. Most
of this work will be done in New Haven
by Prot. Verrill and his assistants.
Eighteen species of fish were caught.
heretofore unknown and undescribed, be-
sides others known to Greenland and
Northern Europe, but not to our coast :;
also wonderful variety of crabs, shrimp,
and lobster-like creatures, some of them
very handsome, and forty species of them
entirely new One hundred and fifty.
five different kinds of shells, lis of them
not before known on this part of the
coast, ffty-fve not known as inhabitants
of American waters, and thirty wholly
unknown to scientists heretofore, were
obtained. In addition, two new kinds
of devil-fsh, one about foot long; 200
specimens Of new and pretty squid, and
twenty new kinds of starfsh, were taken.
OF these starfsh, thousands of specimens
were Melted, some of exceeding beauty.
Quite number Of new species of corals
were caught, some Of them being brought
up by the bushel OF fan coral, some
beautiful specimens were obtained. Hun
dreds of sea anemones, brilliantly colored
some Of them measuring foot across,
delighted the eyes Of the men of science.
One strange discovery was worm in
habiting a quill like a goose quill. The
quilts were about foot long, and soon
after being taken out of the water grew
so hard that they could 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, glistened and
presented 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 tile
fish is plentier than the cod A Glou-
cester fisherman last winter hauled in the
first tilefsh Since then few have been
caught. Prof. Verrill, however, caught
three with perpendicular trawl line
On opening their stomachs he found
therein some Of the rare crustacea that
abounded thereabouts, and he knew it
was their feeding ground. Hei is satisfied
that they are plentier there in season
than Goldfish off Block Island. One of
the three fish caught weighed fifty
pounds. The tilefsh, as described by
Prof. Verrill, is a magnificent fish of a
light yellow-brown color, shaped like a
sea bass, and spotted all over with vel
low 1t is fine eating, and he is CON
WINGED that it is destined to become
favorite market fish now that it is known
where it can be readily caught.
All of the fish caupht nv the dradoee