The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-07-03
DEEP SEA SECRETS.
Important Discoveries Made IN
the Pacific Ocean.
Many Interesting Facts Learned About
the Waters Along Our Western
Coast-SinguIar Changes
Occurring.

The United States steamer AlbatrOss
lately completed a surrey % certain
waters of the Pacific which have never
been subjected heretofore to scientific
examination There iS 4 large portion
of the Pacific ocean lying of the north
west coast of South America which has
never been examined as to its fauna,
temperature and currents. The Alba
trOss. with Lieutenant Commander T. l.
Tanner in command and Prof AgasSiz,
the greatest living naturalist. repre-
senting the United States fish commits
sion, was sent 10 discover what these
waters contain on the surface at the
bottom and in the intermediate depths
The first work was done, says the
Chicago Post, between Panama bay and
the Cocos and Malpelo islands, off the
coast of Ecuador. On March 20 work
was begun outside of these waters,
reaching from Cape San Francisco, on
the coast of Ecuador, 10 the Galapagos
islands and thence on up to Acapulco.
Mex, along the coast of the latter
country. through part of the Gulf of
California and returning back To
Guaymas The work was thorough
and Prof Agassiz's report win contain
much interesting data. lie discovered,
while at the Galapagos islands, the al
most entire disappearance OF the
tortoise for which the islands We're for
merly celebrated. Not many years ago
whaling vessels put in at this place u
trade in these animals and hundreds
could be caught within an hour or two.
On a former trip the AlbatroSs brought
TO Washington = lot of tortoiscS. On
her recent visit to the islands Il days
search resulted n the capture of only
single specimen.
The fauna discovered by Prof.
Agassiz and his assistants in these
waters are almost identical with that
found in West Indian seas. This i ac-
cepted as additional and important
proof that the IsthInus OF Panama is of
comparatively recent creation. In
precretaceous times the Caribbean sea
is supposed to have been 4 bay Of the
Pacific ocean, and the similarity of the
fauna in both is believed to indicate the
truth Of the theory.
Prof AEaSsiz has been little disap-
pointed in the specimens of deep sea
fauna secured. They are not nearly so
rich as those found among the West
Indies and along the eastern coast of
North America. This is thought to be
due To the absence of any great current,
such as the Gulf stream in the Atlantic.
which carries with ii large amounts of
food. The surface fauna was also in
striking contrast with that of the At
l-nt;y frO.I The -alu, cause. There was
= noticeable dirainution of the great
umoa-It of animal matter which i
fOEn;i IA the Guii stream
Probably the most Interesting and
valuable result of the AIbatross' work
was ~. Drs.s.ticll ;Isc q = new instru-
mcnt T.. .',-u,ninE sPccImcns from the
intermediate waters. There has never
been any trouhlc in asccrtaining the
character Of the fauna that exists on
The surface Of the water, as a scoop net
would bring IN the required specimens,
and thc living things at the bottom of
the sca could be discovered bv dredging:
but Il was never before possible to as
certain with any degree of accuracy
what kind 81 fish or sea animals in
hahited the middle waters. The in
strument III question l. q net which can
b. lowered To any desired depth and
then opened and closed. bringing up in
it, folds whatever living thing was
SWIMMING about in those depths. Il
was generally uscd ana tound 70 be very
effective. Another practical use 70
which Tins apparatus can be put i to
discover thC habits oi many Of tl.e we'll
known food fishes which frequent the
surface at certain seasons and then dis
appear. ike the ma ci5crcl and the
b.retish. IL has never been known
where they go after their season at the
banks. II il now possible L. learn
whether the theory that they seek the
intermediate waters in the open sea is
true.