The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1891-07-07
DEEP SEA SECRETS.
Important Discoveries Made in
the Pacific Ocean.
Many Interesting Facts Learned About
the Waters Along Our Western
Coast-Singular Changes
Occurring.

Inc ONlUeu OUdIeS steamer AlDaJrOSs
lately completed survey Of certain
waters of the Pacific which have never
been subjected heretofore to scientific
examination. There is large portion
of the Pacific ocean lying off 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 q. T..
Tanner in command and Prof. Agassiz,
the greatest living naturalist, repre-
senting the United States fish commits
sion, was sent to 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, to 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 will contain
much interesting data. He discovered,
while at the Galapagos islands, the al
most entire disappearance of the
tortoise for which the islands were for
merly celebrated. Not many years ago
whaling vessels put in at this place to
trade in these animals and hundreds
could be caught within an hour or two
On former trip the Albatross brought
to Washington a lot of tortoises. On
her recent visit to the islands days
search resulted in the capture of only
single specimen.
The fauna discovered by Prof.
Agassiz and his assistants in these
waters are almost identical with tina
found in West Indian seas. This is ac
copied as additional and important
proof that the Isthmus of Panama is of
comparatively recent creation. In
precretaceous times the caribbean sea
is supposed to have been bay of the
Pacific ocean, and the similarity of the
fauna in both is believed to indicate the
truth of the theory.
Prof Agassiz 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 it large amounts of |
food. The surface fauna was also in
striking contrast with that of the At
f,.,t.- f1,ac rha,
a noticeable diminution of the great I
amount of animal matter which is
found in the Gulf stream.
Probably the most interesting and
result of the Albatross' work
was the practical use of a new instru-
ment for obtaining specimens from the
intermediate waters. There has never
been any trouble in ascertaining the
character of the fauna that exists on
the surface of the water, as a scoop net
would bring in the required specimens,
and the living things at the bottom of
the sea could be discovered by dredging;
but it was never before possible to as
certain with any degree of accuracy
what kind of fish or sea animals in
aabited the middle waters. The in
;trument in question is net which can
De lowered to any desired depth and
hen opened and closed, bringing up in
is folds whatever living thing was
about in those depths. 1t
vas generally used and found to be very
Effective. Another practical use to
which this apparatus can be put is to
discover the habits of many of the we'll
znown food fishes which frequent the
urface at certain seasons and then dis
ppear, like the mackerel and the
'luefsh. 1t has never been known
where they go after their season at the
'anks. 1t is now possible to learn {
whether the theory that they seek the
Intermediate waters in the open sea is
rue.