West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-04-28
DEEP SEA SECRETS.
Important Discoveries Mcdo IN
tho Pacific Ocean.
Many Interesting rncts Learned About
the Waters Along Our western
Coast-SinguIar Changes
Occurring.

Tho United States steamer AIbatross
lately completed a survey 90 certain
waters OF the Pacific which have never
been subjected heretofore to scientific
examination. There is n large portion
OF the Pacific ocean lying of the north
west coast OF South America which has
never been examined as 20 its fauna,
temperature and currents. Tho Alba
tross, with Lieutenant Commander n. l..
Tanner in command and Prof. Agassiz.
the greatest living naturalist, repre-
senting tho United States fish commits
sion, was sent TO discover what these
Writer'S contain on the surface. mt 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, of 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 mp to Acapulco,
Mex along the coast of the latter
country. through part of the Gulf OF
California and returning back 10
Guaymas. The work was thorough
and Prof. Agassiz's report will contain
much interesting data. lie 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 ard hundreds
could he caught within an hour or two.
On former trip the AlbatrOss brought
to Washington lot of tortoises On
her recent visit to the islands n 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 that
found in West Indian seas. This is nc
copied as additional and important
proof that the Isthmus of Panama is OF
comparatively recent creation. In
prccrctaccous times the Caribbean sea
is supposed To have been u bay OF the
Pacific ocean, and the similarity OF the
fauna in both is believed TO indicate the
truth Of the theory.
Prof. Agassi2 has been little disap-
pointed In the specimens of deep sea
fauna secured. They arc not nearly so
rich IS those found among the West
Indies and along the eastern coast OF
North America. This is thought TO bc
due TO the absence of any great current,
such rs the Gulf stream in the Atlantic,
which carries with IL large amounts of
food. The surface fauna was also I'm
striking contrast with that of the At
lantic from the Same cause. There was
noticeable diminution of the great
amount Of animal matter which is
found in the Gulf stream.
Probably the most interesting and
valuable result of the Albatross' worl.
was the practical use of n new instIu-
ment for obtaining specimens from the
intermediate waters. There has never
been any trouble in ascertaininp the
character of the fauna that exists on
the surface OF the water, Us scoop net
would bring in the required specimens,
and the living things at the bottom of
the sea could be discovered by dredging;
but IL was never before possible to ns-
certain with any degree of accuracy
what kind of fish or sea animals in
habitcd the middle waters. The In
strumcrt in question is net which con
be lowered TO any desired depth and
then opened and closed, bringing up in
its folds whatever living thing was
swimming about in those depths. II
was generally used and found to be very
effective. Another practical use to
which this apparatus can he put is To
discover the habits of many OF the we'll
known food fishes which frequent the
surface at certain seasons and then dis
appear, like the maclrercl and the
bluefish. 1t has never been known
where they go after their season at the
banks. 1t Is now possible to learn
whether tho theory that they seek the
intermediate waters in the open sea is
true.