, 1894-06-20
SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATIONS IN THE
BAHAMAS.
From the Vest India and Commercial
Advertiser.

Advertiser.
The emily I. Johnson" a two masted
schooner. SO feet long, tonnage 1l5 tons, was
chartered of its owner, Captain O. G.. Paul, of
Baltimore. for three months for the use of the
bahama Expedition Of the State University
Of Iowa." which had for its object the "care-
fu3 and systematic investigation of the marine
fauna and flora around the Florida keys and
Bahamas" The schooner was rapidly trans
formed into a dwelling vessel and floating
laboratory.
A huge skylighted hatch was cut in the
held, and the hold itself ftteu up to serve at
once as sleepi ng apartments for the gentle
men Of the party, as dining room and as labo-
latory.
Adouble tier of extomporised hunks lined
either wall, long oilclotl-covered tables and
camp-chairs occupied the centre space, and a
complete scientific library and laboratory sup
plies, including microscopes, chemicals,
dissecting apparatus, &G., occupied shelves at
one end. Provisions were stored IN the fore
part Of the hold.
On deck was placed the hosting apparatus,
which was worked by hand and provided
with 800 fathoms Of wire rope. There was
70 steam aboard. The vessel had been ch0s-
en- IOI us IlbilCSS ~ AlNlC OlG uAAO N"tNi@
about the keys and islands.
The party was composed Of twenty-one
members (of which seven were LADIES', ana
included professors, instructors, alumni, and
students of Iowa State .Univerity, Professor
Nuttiug being the leader. Gilbert =. Hon
ser, instructor in biology, was the photo
graphor, and many beautiful pictures were
taken.
All were interested in science and each was
supposed to be especially interested In some
particular branch of science. All had applied
voluntarily for membership III the party.
The university furnished all appliances for
dredging, for preserving materials, and for
study. In addition each member paid two
hundred dollars, which covered all expenses
incurred by the party collectively, including
car fare from Iowa City to Baltimore aid
return, with stop offs" at Washington and
the Worlds Fair, in addition to our life
aboard the vessel for three months. 1t is
estimated that we travelled by land and sea
some six thousand miles.
On May 5, 1898, we left Baltimore in our
floating summer homg and laboratory.
Seven days later we anchored in the har-
hour of Egg Island, Bahamas. Here we made
a marvellous collection in the shallow waters
and on land. Our deck wasEstrewn with sea
fans and gorgonians. There were great tubs
of rafting crabs and star fish and sea urchins,
and buckets of mollusks. One of our Illus
~trations shows the giant star fishes captured,
which measured about two feet across. The
ornithologist and entomologist had captured
strange birds and '::bugs," the first prize of
the latter being that curious luminous beetle
worn by the Cuban ladies as a glowing
ornament for the hair or to catch the lace of
their mantillas. The bOtanists had their
cans full and running 4over with tropic
vegetation, from the passion flower to our
own familiar shepherds purse and sand burr;
and there were pans full of floating algae,
''sea mosses.' But it would take volumes to
give an adequate idea of the spoils.
From here we sailed for Havana, spent a
few days exploring the city, and just outside
the harbour dredged for that exceedingly
rare animal form until lately supposed to be
extinct, viz, the crinoid genus Pento crimNs.
We found fully $50 beautiful and perfect
specimens.
Bahia Honda, thirty miles further along
the western coast Of Cuba, next claimed oui