Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-07-11
DEEP SEA SECRETS.
Important Discoveries Made in
the Pacific Ocean.
Many Interesting Facts Learned About
the Waters Along Our Wc.tcrn
Coast--Singular Changes
Occurring.

occurring.
The United States steamer AlbatrosS
lately completed survey Of certain
waters of the Pacific which have never
been subjected heretofore to scientific
examination. There l., IL large portion
Of the Pacific ocean lying Off the north
wG&t coast OF South America which has
never been examined as to its fauna,
Temperature and currents. The Alba
tross, with Lieutenant Commander Il. i.
Tanner in command and Prof. Agassz,
the greatest living naturalist, repre-
Scntin;c the United States fish commits
sion. was sent to discover what thcSe
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 MalpClo 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. AgQsSiz's report viii 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
ucrly 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.
Gn former trip the AlbatrOss brought
10 Washington n lot Of tortOises. On
her recent visit to the islands days
search resulted in the capture of only a
single specimen.
The fauna discovered by Prof.
Agassi2 and his assistants in these
waters are almost identical with that
found in West Indian seas. This is ac-
"cpted as additional and important
proof that the Isthmus of Panama is OF
comparatively recent creation. In
prccretGccous times the Caribbean sea
is supposed to have been Il bay OF tho
Pacific ocean, and the similarity of the
fauna in both is believed TO indicate the
truth of the theory.
Prof. Agassi; has been n little disap'
pointed in the specimens of deep sea
fauna secured. They are not nearly sc
rich as thosa found among the West
Indies and along the eastern coast Of
Nolth America. This is thought to be
due to the absence of any great current
such rs the Gulf stream III the Atlantic
which carries with it large amounts o.
food The surface fauna was also il
striking contrast with that of the At
~lantic frC.1 the same cause. There wa
Il noticeable d!minution of tho grca
amount Of animal matter which i
found in the Gulf stream.
Probably the most interesting anC
valuable result Of the Albatrnss' worl
WAS the practical use Of a new inStru
mcpt for obtaining specimens from tn
intermediate waters. There has 'ncve
been any trouble in aSccrtaining TIN
character. of the fauna that exists O
the surface Of the water, as a scoop he
would bring in the required specimens
and the living things at the bottom G
tic sea could be discovered by dredging
but it was mover before possible to az
rertain with any degree of accurac
what kind of fish or sea animals il
5,abited the middle waters The il
,trument in question is q net which ca
be lowered to any desired depth ar
then opened and closed, bringing up
it's folds whatever living thing w;
swimming about in those depths,
WINS generally used and found to be vel
eG:ootivc, Another practical Use
witch this apparatus can be put is
discover the habits of many Of the we
known food fishes which frequent IL
surface at certain Seasons and then ii
appear, like the m1clercl and Il
bluefiSll. 1t has never been know
where they go after their season at t
banks. 1t Is now possible to lea
whether the theory that they seek t
intermediate waters in the open sea
r.Tue. .,--
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