The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-27
OVER FIVE MILES DEEP.
SOMETHING ABOUT The ABYSSeS
OF THE PACIFIC Ocean.


Feet in Depth-A Horn shaped Plateau
That Serves ~ "A Connecting Link.
The popularity Of the Pacific ocean is
that it can be divided into two distinct
parts, the dividing limo being tho nerd
ian Of 100 degs. west The eastern hail.
that which lavcs our shores, - remark
able for the absence Of islands and the
uniform nature Of lis depth, for. with the
exception Of the narrow strip OF shalio'
water surrounding the Aleuiian Islands,
and running along the American coast,
the sounding line shows an average depth
Of FROM 1900 70 5000 fathoms. undiyersi-
fed by any remarkable elevations or de
prcssious. The only noteworthy exccp-
ton TO this great and equal depth IS a
great submarine plateau, which extends
out from the patlgonianc coast and which
rises 20 between 1000 and 900 fathoms
from the surface. This plateau IS horn
shaped. and is evidently connecting
link between the South American CON
tinent and the Australian archipelago
IAIAlAI.NHA lfN iH""if' a'IHh"f
The western half of the Pacific ocean
is q complete contrast 20 the eastern
Archipolaeos and scattered islands are
exceedingly numerous. and the depth OF
the ocean is uniform. shadows occurring
scattered over it 40 irregular intervals
Along the Asiatic coast and between the
island groups there are number of par
tally incl0scl seas. and these are scpa-
rated from The great ocean by submarine
platoaus Of suhicien, extent and height
to warrant the supposition that mod
crate uphcaval would extend the Asiatic
continent as far south as Australia.
Transforming the seas into inland salt
.lkcs. Considerations of the peculiar
animal and vegetable life of New Iea-
land and Australia lend probability 10
the speculation that these islands were
ioncd TO the main continent Of Asia no
some remote period, and it is even possj
bic 20 trace tine submerged coast linefof
the great continent which then existed
The same uphoayai acting upon thepla-
teau extending out from the Pata'muian
shore would almost make The Pacific q
land locked ocean, the entrance 20 10 be-
ing between thep?int of the ncw llandd
and another headland formed by what IS
now Ducie Island, lying in the same lat
itude. but about 10 degs- further north
As has been said. there runs along the
American shore narrow strip OF shall
low water, but the term shallow Is only
% boz taken in its comparative sense. Il
IS from - To 900 miles wide, tho depth
running from nothing TO 1000 fathomS
Outside this again is another strip of not
quite SD uniform width, wherein the
depth reached 1000 fathoms, quite deep
enough 90 drown a tan man. The mi-
form character of the seas depth D.
quite marked along the Californian
shore. but eyou hero there are ups and
downs. shadows and depths. The coast
limo has "a strip of water as its immcdi-
ate border, i'm which the depth keeps at
about twelve fathoms along ledge or
plateau for few miles ont. and then
drops sheer down Tor 500. GOO and 900
fathoms. This shor, ledge is quite wei
ueiiie1 anu generally uhofohcn, but n
Do tnere sometime occurs cre'assa oi
valley, whose exploration is matt o., OF
much curious interest Directly oa
Point liuenemo. at the entrance t0 nd,
santa barbara channei' there is ound q
remarkable example ol one ol Or Csc sub
marine valleys. Commencing. with q
depth oi ten iatlom5 600 yard from tho
beach, 10 increases to ility iathoms ia
iiFceighfha OF % mile and then drop.
suddenly 10 lib iathoms. or O,s feet, if
less IMAM t"o mikes. i's general dnec
lio" Us soulh' anu Do i' ID inHed aIl round
ns "'i''7 OK llo"i 'ffeFs 10 uIteei
lannon's.
announcer feiA'i-isie example oi -
submarine valley mas been discovered.
ana 20 some extent traced out DID Mon
corey 'ay by o'mmo0oio James Alden
i"' iie"i Oh inns valley is hle-ei7H,'.5 %.
" "iiie soul" o.. ,'i' '.'i''i'' ii'er' '-'i" cd.
'"eily iA'"on ''"' 10 c'iis " quarter o'
IL MIC on ''.' "'''''i' inc D,l''" i'''ie''
ing 70 I'i'y i"lHoilis III ~ie next lu.l'e'
oil mile. At lAls distance nom hioie
Nla twenty i"'1''-l .'4e' are ''.ee-,'7 ''.''
Oh " ln"' apart I"' 5eHeI" dlie.'l
oil lne F"ie, i"' 'i'e Ne1s ''o liii,5 D.
southeast "h.io mere is d oeplh oil il'
la'noiH'' 'ii3 i'l.5 i".Ho"i lie7 running
ABOUT llFe-tl 7N'l'7 ol iiiiIe apart lHeiic.
the valley runs about W''Ii reaching inc
depth ol l'V l1tnons ia a ialio and <le
iathoms Do tiDee ani oAe-qualier miles
with iorly-t"o iaiAoms less imam mile
TO ihe nofih Use soundihS5 aie moi
numerous enough 10 trace us outlines ODD
deep water But ihe indications arc ioi
ten miie5 oil us length lhll DC runs SOUTH
west "ll" no bottom gu dl' iatnoms. j.
would appear from tins description TINT
this valley Is really an enormous can, on
that opens through the shore ine yai-e
clear ont and down into the dcopw
oil the l'OoJ iaihom belt
Here again the terms deep anlcIeFasse
"i@ t' "- ''NN' ''' '''~-A N'''ii '''4 attft
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