The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-05-21
THE TaETIS ARRIVES.
The Survey from California to
Hilo Completed.
She VIII Remain Here About
Ten Days-FuH List of
Officers.

The United States survey steamer
Thetis, Commander Geo. c. Reiter,
U. S. n, commanding, arrived in
port early on Friday morning, two
and half days from Hilo, Hawaii.
She made no survey between Hilo
and Honolulu. Concerning the sur
vey from Point Conception, which
is the entrance to Santa Barbara
channel, 240 miles south of San
Francisco, Lieutenant j. H. L.
Holcombe spoke in favorable
terms. The course taken by the
Thetis is 2060 miles, while that
surveyed by the U. S. S. Albatross
recently, between San Francisco
and Honolulu, was about 215O
miles. The Thetis made total of
three hundred surveys, taken at in
tervals Of between ten, two, and
sometimes, one mile apart. The
number of soundings the Albatross
made was $50. The deepest sound
ing made by the Thetis was 1928
fathoms, about 245 miles north
east Of Hilo. The shoalest was 976
fathoms, and the mountain must
have been 1900 feet high. That
location was about $50 miles from
Point Conception, and were it not
for this abrupt rise, the whole
course would have been almost
level. Lieut.. Holcombe, who had
charge of the microscopic and
chart work, exhibited to our re-
porter the comparative chart con-
tanning the courses made by the
Albatross and the Thetis, the chart
being the same one used by the
Albatross in her recent sound
ings. Another chart was pro-
duced showing the lay of the
bottom of the ocean throughout
the entire course. One looking at
it can get very good knowledge
of the bottom of the sea. Leaving
out the deepest and shoalest places
mentioned elsewhere, the bottom
would be almost level and parallel
with the surface of the ocean.
The present route is considered
by the officers of the Thetis as the
most practicable yet surveyed.
Volcanic rocks were found in sew
eral places, which means that
there is hardly any current at the
bottom to carry these microscopic
rocks away. Nearly everywhere
globeregina ooze was found.
A metallic piston enclosed in a
shot weighing so lbs. is descended
to the bottom by means of a tiny
steel wire. When it reaches the
bottom it undergoes certain ways
of action by which specimens from
the bottom enter the tube and are
taken up. A self-registering Their
mometer is let down at the same
time for finding the temperature OF
the bottom, which ranges between
IS deg. and 40 deg. Fahrenheit.
Sounding was carried on day
and night. Lieuts. Nelson, Bron-
augh, Morgan and Parmenter made
the surveys while Lieut.. Holcome at
tended to the microscopic and
chart work. The last named gen
sleman is preparing charts which
he will forward by the next Aus
tralia to the Navy Department al
Washington. The northern route
or the one taken by the Albatross
was not as regular as the one gone
over by the Thetis, the former one
making such abrupt changes as
2400 and 1900 fathoms within
short distances.
The trip of the Thetis has been
one of the most pleasant and en-,
joyable, the weather being unusu
ally, and the officers are satisfied
with the results of their work.
The Thetis was once a whaler
and was purchased by the United
States government in 1883 from g
Dundee firm. After being fitted
up, she was sent on a relief expedi
ton in search of the Greedy party
and brought them back to New
York.
The Thetis is wooden vessel
bark rugged, and has engines capa
bic of driving the vessel at the rate
of nine miles an hour. The only
armament the Thetis carries is g
Hotchkiss gun. Her crew, exclu
sive of officers, numbers sc. The
Thetis will return to San francisco
after stay of about ten days in
Honolulu. The following is the
official list of officers:
Commander George c. Reiter, U. S
N, commanding.
N, Elk. Officer.
Lieutenant J. w. Stewart, U. S. N,
Navigator.
Lieutenant V. S. Nelson, U. S. n.
Lieutenant w. V. Bronaugh.
Lieutenant j. III. L. HolcOmbe.
Ensign 5. Morgan.
Ensign III. E. Parmenter.
Passed Assistant Engineer William
RObotham.