The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-11-24

these two spines can only be raised o.
depressed simultaneously, in such a
manner that the first cannot be forced
down unless the second has been pre-
viously depressed. The latter has been
compared to a trigger.
Then there is a small, peculiar look
ing fish caught near Acapulco in 900
fathoms OF water. and which has the
misfortune of being possessed of no
ewes. On the top of its head is phos
phorescent patch undoubtedly design
ed to attract the forms of animal life
il uses as its food. Immediately be
meath this phosphorescent patch is a
large mouth out of all proportion TO
the body This in connection with the
former compose the tish's apparatus
for obtaining a living.
Beautiful and delicate branched cor
| ais from Behring Sea, star fishes and
stalked crinoids from off Havana, her
nit crabs that compare well in size
with a lobster-these and many other
| forms go to make the lower laboratory
the spot of most attraction for scienu-
fic minds.
WHAT PRESSURE WILL DO.
Suspended from the upper deck,
which forms the ceiling of the lower
laboratory, is a spherical glass hoat
used in supporting the large trawling
net 1t is three-eights of an inch thick
and is nearly filled with water. This
latter fact is what puzzles the brains
OF all who look upon it, as there is
not one apparent flaw, and the water
has remained in it without the least
signs of evaporation for many months
The explanation as given by Captain
Moser was as follows: One day the
float went down into $500 fathoms
(15,600 feet) of water, where the pres
sure was 1880 pounds to the square
inch, and when it came again to the
top it was filed with water There
must have been some flaw, or the wa
ter could not have been forced in even
by the heavy pressure.
MUST HAVE AN ARTIST.
In speaking of the Photographic dark
room in the lower laboratory, Captain
Moser was led to remark that it was
probable an artist would soon be added
to the force of workers aboard ship
for the purpose of catching the colors
of various fishes as they come fresh
from the deep, since the preserving
fluids and light has the effect of
bleaching" many of the specimens.
DREDGING.
After the sinker has been sent down
and brought aboard again with speci-
men of the bottom, together with the
thermometer, the port engine is start
ed with a caution to the engineer of
the watch to go slow for dredging"
The vessel will naturally swing to star
board, which she is allowed to do un-
til the intended course is reached, the
wind on the starboard bow, or abeam,
being the most favorable if it is in
tended to steam ahead while dredging.
In the meantime, the trawl has been
hoisted to the boom end and swung
out ready for lowering as soon as the
vessel is steadied on her course. 1t is
first landed on the surface of the water
and held there until the frame assumes
horizontal position, the net extend
ing aft, at full length, the mud bag
floating clear of the bride ends, and
the wing nets towing aft and clear.
The trawl is lowered, the speed being
regulated so as never to exceed 25 faith
oms per minute in depths of over 800
fathoms.
The port swinging boom is rigged
out and towing nets put over as soon
as the vessel is steadied on her course,
the speed for dredging (about knots
per hour) being admirably adapted for
surface work
While the trawl is beng lowered, the
speed is kept at 80 deg. and so deg.
There are many points to be watched
and regulated as the nets are being