Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-18

M w. spects, with the pilot
rNfr IVA ~ chart of the North
wv M/AhMl' Atlantic, which for
EhS%hP many years has been
enormously valuable
to mariners of all nations. People every
where who are interested in navigation are
looking forward with eagerness to this new
nautical publication.
In many respects the North Pacific ocean
resembles the North Atlantic. A great
warm current, much like the gulf stream
and of equal magnitude, called the Black
stream or Japan current, runs northward
along the eastern shore of Asia Close to
the east coast of Japan it flows through a.
marine valley which holds the deepest Wa
ter known In the world. 1t was sounded at
depth of five and a quarter miles by the
L. D. steamer Tuscarora in 1875, while sur
vey1ng for a projected cable route between
the United States and Japan. The heavy
sounding weight took more than an hour
to sink to the bottom. But trial was made
OF a chasm yet more profound, where the
lead did not fetch up at all. 1t is the only
depth OF ocean that yet remains unfath-
omed
Just as a certain region of the North At
iahtic northeast from Boston is shrouded
In perennial fog, does a similar bank of
ally the neighborhood of the Aleutian
Islands. Here the warm Black stream
meets the frigid polar current which runs
southwark through Bering strait out of the
frozen Arctic. The result is an evolution of
aqueous vapor or fog. Seal hunters often
get lost in ii, losing sight of their vessels
and Knowing not which way to row. drift
away TO death from thirst and starvation
The waters of the North Pacific. like-those
OF the Atlantic, move in a mighty circle
In the midst of which is an eddy. The lat
Ter is situated between the Hawaiian and
Marshall Islands. and between twenty and
thirty degrees north latitude Here. where
there are no currents worth mentioning is
vast accumulation of weeds somewhat
resembling the Sargasso sea. The weeds
are growing. though in deep water and
noating on the surface being sustained nv
ar BULBS. which form part Of their struct-
ure. They harbor strange forms of anina,
n1e-queer fishes that build spherical nests
with their arm-like fore fms transpar rent
snrinps, transparent cutie fish, transpar-
emu sea worms and pelagic sea anemones.
To Predict the Weather.
Inc photographic office has plenty of
data at hand for making up a monthly
pilot chart of the North Pacific Observa-
IONS by mariners of all parts of that ocean
have been recorded and compiled for rhe
past fifty years Thus 1t will be practica
Die to indicate, by means of wind arrows
ana symbols. the weather for each month
winch may ordinarily be expected in each
degrees square of sea surface. The usual
currents will be similarly indicated. Areas
OF fog and rain will be shown by colored
patches. As for the storms that run up
tne east coast Of Asia. like those which
follow the gulf stream northward along
the Atlantic shore, help is expected from
the meteorological service at Hong Kong
ana also from Japan, which has as efficien;
a system or this sort as is to be found in
the world. "
An important and conspicuous feature
OF the North Atlantic pilot chart is the
indication of derelicts. or abandoned wrecks
the situation and appearance of which are
SHOWN by small conventionalized sketches
1t Will be remembered that the question of
tries for marking off the oceans into dis
trlcts and dividing up the work of DESTROY
ing such hulks among the maritime nations
was brought to the attention of Congress
during Its recent extraordinary session by
the Navy Department Eventually no
doubt, this will be done
Defelicts are not nearly as plentiful in the
Pacific as in the Atlantic The reasons
why are several. Storms are less freouent
and not so severe: hence there are fewer
wrecks. Not so many vessels sail on the
waters OF that greatest of oceans in proper
ton TO the eXpanse of surface. According
ly, the dangers to navigation referred TO
are comparatively rare. OF course such
of them as are reported will appear on the
new pilot charts. They are among the most
serious of all the perils encountered by
mariners, inasmuch collision with one
is almost certain and immediate destruction
for the strongest ship.
'WaterspoutS" will be marked as usl,al
by a special symbol wherever they are re-
ported. They are termed by meteorologists
ocean tornadoes." In fact they CORE
spond to the phenomenon called a tornado
hptnQ brought a hOnr ha anna
causes, and exhibiting the same freaks
Instead of whiring cloud, there is
whirling column of water, sometimes
high as 10000 feet and connecting the
clouds above with the sea beneath. The
vessel caught in such an aqueous ''twister"
is lost; but there are possibilities of avoid
ing II IL one knows which way to run. Or
it may sometimes be broken up by firing
cannon at 1t.
What the Chart VIII show.
The new pilot chart will. from month to
month. record important or unusual infer
nation respecting the fishing grounds off
the coast of Alaska and eastern Siberia,
for the benefit of vessels engaged in pisca-
torial pursuits. 1t will mark out, as guide
for whalers, the water areas whore so called
whale food" is found. This food" is COM
posed of oceanic diatoms-small organisms.
at most microscopic, with finty shells.
Often they cover the open sea fJr many
square miles with a thick layer Of dark
slime-the black water of the Arctic voy-
ager. Innumerable crustaceans and other
animals on which whales live, feed upon
this slime. The diatoms, when they die,
sink to the bottom. and their shells, the
delicate structure and elaborate patterns of
which make them among the most beauti-
full of objects beneath the microscope form
the well-known "diatom ooze" that covers
a great part of the oceans flow.
The photographic office receives reports
who are employed in the various merchant
and fighting navies of the world Their OBJ
servations up to date have only covered the
North Atlantic: henceforth ;hey will be ex-
tended to the North Pacific. and thousands
of additional reporters will send in news
about meteorological affairs on the greater
ocean. They have a great :rteres- IN con-
tributing the Information, which is digested
at Washington and made the basis fer the
pilot chart next forthcoming. The govern
ments function is merely to gather the data
from mariners for their owl benci- and 10
publish a resume of hem, with forecasts
based upon them In the light OF experience
in causes and effects scientifically consId-
erred Thus IL makes PREDICTIONS & 20