The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-25

islands will be visited. Five weeks will
be devoted to the exploration and study
of the fauna in and around the MARSHALL
islands.
The course will then be changed to the
northeast, and an almost straight line of
1900 miles will be made for San Fran
cisco, taking in on the way the Hawaiian
islands. Over this course a line OF deep
sea dredging Will be run, decp-sea tow
nets being used while the dredging Is GO
ing on. This work Is expected to be one
Of the most interesting features OF the
expedition.
An interesting point in controversy be-
tween European and American deep-sea
explorers will be settled on this voyage OF
the Asbatross. The scientific men OF the
old worl6. have always contended that the
sea is Inhabited by various forms OF life
at all depths. The Americans, On the 9TH
er hand. say that life beyond the continent
tai slope Is confined to an upper layer of
the oceans surface at a depth OF few
hundred fathoms. and lower layer con-
sisting OF submarine fishes and animals
which live along the bottom of the ocean.
The Albatross will drag nets. which are
opened and closed at any desired stage OF
their descent. through all successive stages
OF the oceans depth an6 will thus be able
to determine the matter absolutely.
Fish Commissioner George NJ. Bowers
and DR. Hugh NJ. Smith have received the
hearty approval OF the president In their
plans for the expedition. and it Is ex-
pected that most important Information
OF a practical nature regarding the food
fishes of the Pacific waters will be OBJ
tanned. The department of state has COM
municated through the American ambas-
sadors with the French. German and Eng
lish authorities for the purpose of having
the representatives OF these governments
Instructed 10 accord special privileges to
the Albatross. The reports embodying the
results OF the expedition will be published,
jointly by the FISH commission and the
Museum of Comparative Zoology.
In a recent letter Prof, Agassx refers TO
his explorations n the bahamas. the Ber-
mudas. Cuba, Florida. the Fiji islands, the
Australian Great Barrier reef, the Sand
wien islands. The Bay OF Panama. the Gal
apagos archipelago and the Guf OF Cali
fornia. and then says;
The expedition now proposed con-
slider the most important. one / have uncer-
taken since the cruise Of the Blake iss7-so
1t covers an area OF the Pacific which has
not as yet been touched. as nothing IL
known OF the line from San Francisco 10
Tahiti Tahiti 10 FIJI, Ei.ice and Jai:et and
Marshall islands ~ Honolulu: and most
important results should be obtained with
vessel so admirably fitted for the work
as the Aihatross. In addition To the seep-
sea work we expect 10 visit many os the
atoiIs and elevations Astounding along our
track. and hope 10 throw additional light
upon the debatahie theory OF cora; reefs
The proposed AIbasross expedition, is one
which. with far success, is sure 70 be
crsditahie 10 this country. Since the great
exploring expedition OF wilkes this gov
eminent has Done bui little in the greater
field OF oceanic exoiorai an as a whole.
though the minor expeditions undertaken
t.. &x~x-. 80 .
survey and the FISH commission have been
among the most satisfactory explorations
Of limited areas OF eur eoass"-Ncw York
sun.