Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-13
A SCENE IN nIID-oOEAH.
The Great sargassO Sea Where Derelicts
Drift.


The Great sargassO Sea Where Derelicts
Drift.
For several years past the hydro
graphic bureau at Washington has been
irving 10 ascertain a more intimate
knowledge Of the movements OF the
waters Of the ocean, and great number
db0ttles, cOtaining messages and sec
uray c0rked, have been dropped over
board by vessels. Many OF these have
aoated thousands OF miles before they
were picked up, and, while sOne were
washed upon native and foreign shores,
others have found their way into the
Uest Sargossa Sea. From the courses
nsan by these different bottles il has
taan found that the ocean currents
move around In a vast circle. Those
which were dropped overheard on the
American coast took nOrtherly course,
Hble those on the European side flOated
towards the south. Bottles dropped
7aTb0ard in the North Atlantic started
toward the northeast, and those from
bs African or Spanish coast tOated al
most directly west until they reached
he West India Islands. The general
directions OF the currents were thus as
cauaned, showing that the waters
acted upon by winds and currents cir
Uta.ed round and round like an enOr-
sOus pool.
II an pools floating objects are
quickly cast outside Of the revolving
currents, or they are carried with them
q jleir circular route for some time
c1,I, they are washed nearer the center
rgie Of the pool. The bottles that
were forced outside of the currents OF
he ocean were cast upon the shores OF
Nue country, but those which were
Nis-5 toward the center event
alY found their way in
he calm waters OF the Sar-
n;'o Sea. Here they remain peace
l.y Until picked up by some vessel, or
l1tl soma storm casts them back into
es great pool.
Vessels very rarely visit the great sea
Z the middle of the ocean, but occa-
Iol2.Iy they are driven there by storms
9 adverse winds. Strange sights meet
zee glZo Ok the sailors at such times.
Wonderful. st0ries-partly true and
E'ty is.se-have been told by sailors
s'gu.ug from a forced trip to the vast
N's2sso Sea. The surface OF the sea
severed with floating wrecks, spars,
@i'Seei, boxes. fruits and a thousand
--sr ilnumerable articles. IL is the
a'ai repository or storehOuse OF the
van and all things which do not sink
zoe bottom or are not washed upon
-s shores are carried 20 this center OF
~e sea. When one considers the vast
-.-o.r OF wrecks on the ocean, and the
vanity o., floating material that is
-NR1 overheard, a faint idea OF the
.''aase To the SargassO Sea may De
0ce.ya5
1eie.c,s, OF abandoned vessels, fire.
s-55llY disappear In mysterious ways,
80 no accounts are given OF them Tor
!saI' by passing vessels, Then sud
-sl'H years later, they appear again In
~ We..-traveled route TO the aston
e-lent Of all. The wrecks are covered
.''1 mold and green slime, showing the
,.-s' lonesome voyage which they have
Els'tl through. II is generally sup
Soasl mat such derelicts have been
Yep. Into the center of the pool, and
Imam. .Sluailed in the Sargasso Sea until I'm
s 81! cast out by some unusually violent
1ae life In this sea is interesting.
3...4I! and alone the acres Of waters,
s'eIe0 with the debris, stretch out as
'as. graveyard Of the ocean, seldom
20 VISITED by vessels or human be-
I az from all trading routes Of yes
PIE sight OF a sail or steam. vessel Is
lng unusual. The fishes OF the
tne chief life OF these tery