The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
TO EXPLORE THE PACIFIC.
EIPEDITION ABOUT TO NE SENT orr
ny TIE EINH COMMISSION.

depths OF the Mid.Puclnc ana important
Results Are Looked For-Novei Appii-
ances to lie Used-Trip of 10000 Miles.
WASHINGTON. June 1O.-The United States
Fish Commission is prcparlngito send out about
the middle OF August an expedition to explore
the practically unknown depths OF the mid
Pacific Ocean. The party OF scientific men in
charge of the work will sail from San Francisco
on the United States Fish Commission steamer
Albatross and propose to return to the United
States about May 10 OF next year Their
course will take them 2OOuO miles. through
circuit OF nearly every important group OF the
smaller islands which lie in the mid Pacific
Ocean between the Tropic Of Capricorn and the
Tropic of Cancer. At the head OF the scientific
work OF the expedition will be Prot Alexander
Agassiz whose achievements in deep-sea ex-
poration in the past thirty years entltlc him to
the first place among the worlds Investigators
OF submarine life and conditions.
Many reasons induce the members Of the
coming expedition to look for results OF the
highest Importance to scientific popular and
commercial knowledge. In the matter OF para
phernalia and equipment for collecting spcci-
mems and preserving them the AlbNtross will
on this trip undoubtedly surpass any vessel of
the kind ever before commissioned for scirn-
tinc purposes. The Albatross is twin screw
steamer Of something more than | 900 tons
displacement She was constructed for the
Fish Commission in 1882 at cost of
100000 and the first vessel ever
specially designed for deep-sea exploration
Prior to the Spanish American war; dur
ing which she was commissioned In the navy
the Albatross was generally conceded to be the
best equipped vessel In the world for scientific
purposes. She returned to the Fish Com
mission in the early part OF this year. Since
then she has been undergoing extensive re-
pairs and improvements. including the install
lation Of new boilers electric fans. kc.. and the
building OF an icemaking and cod-storaGe
plant. Her two spacious laboratories have been
remodelled and additional facilities have been
added for the preservation of specimens OF deep
sea life and OF marine and land plants and ami
mails which will he collected on the voyag e.
Every effort has been made to equip the vessel
thoroughly for deep-se dredging. trawlinG and
sounding; surface and intermediate towing.
shore seining land collecting and line and net
fishing.
One feature OF interest OF the expedition will
be the use for the first time in deep-sea dredg
ing OF a deep-sea dredge or trawl of any con-
siderable size. Heretofore the largest trawl
ever operated at any great depth has had a
mouth or opening 10 feet wide by 2'i feet high.
with net for the reception OF the catch pro-
portionately small. The great trawl which
is now being constructed by the Fish
Commission for use on the coming ex-
petition OF the Albatross will have a
mouth 20 feet in width by u in height and its
net will be 80 feet in length. 1t is being made
after a special design by Charles II. Townsend
Of the Fish Commission and will be operated at
the greatest possible depth consistent with
safety. Deep-sea naturaists are OF the opinion
that the oceans bed Is inhabited by creatures
OF much greater size han any which have here
tofore been brought to the surface. This opin-
Ion the men who will sail on the Albatross OK
pect TO confirm.
Another curious appliance for deep sea work.
from which important results are expected Is
a.deep-sea pump which will be used on this ex-
petition for the first time. 1t is an invention OF
Prof Agassiz 1t consists OF a rubber tube OF
such length that one end can be let far down
into the ocean depths. Through 1t water con-
tanning the more minute forms OF deep-sea life
which are supposed to exist on the oceans bed
and furnish food for those OF larger size will be
pumped to the surface.
Tho record for the greatest depth ever
reached In deep-sea dredging Is held by the
beam trawl OF the Albatross. This is three
miles. The deepest spot in the oceans bed
lies down In the South Pacific Ocean. about
eight hundred miles to the northeast OF New
Zealand. 1t was recently discovered by
the Penguin OF the British Navy. and
the plummet dropped overheard reached
sheer depth Of Ave and half miles
before it rested on the oceans bed. The Al
batross will take with her on the coming ex-
nta depth even equalling this. and 1t is pos
sbe that she will make detour from her
scheduled course to dredge and sound this
particular part Of the oceans bottom.
When tho Albatross leaves San Francisco
she will proceed directly to Tahiti In the So
ciety Islands On this trip OF $500 miles
dredging and sounding will be carried on at
almost regular intervals on an almost wholly
uncxplored part OF the oceans bottom. 1t is
expected that the average depth Of the ocean
between San Francisco and Tahiti will be
found to exceed three miles From Tahiti the
Paumotu Islands will be explored. This
Archipelago is about six hundred miles
In length. and its natural history 10
almost unknown. After devotIng six or seven
weeks to the work OF exploration tho vessel
will return to the Society Islands. 1t will
next go to the Tonga Friendly Islands. a
distance OF about 800 miles. where a week OF
ten days will be spent. From there the Alba
tross will steer course for the FIJI Islands
where short stay will be made and will &c
thence / 100 miles to the Marshall Islands On
the way the Ellice Islands and the Gilbert
Islands will ba visited. Five weeks will be de.
voted to the exploration and study OF the
fauna in and around the Marshall Islands.
The course will then be changed TO the north
east, and an almost straight line Of 1000 miles
will be made for San Francisco. taking in or
tho way the Hawaiian Islands Over thi'
course line OF uetl'-Sed ureuglngS VIII De run
deep-sea tow nets being used while the drcdg
ing is going on. This work is expected to BIZ
one OF tho most interesting features Of tho ex
petition.
An interesting point in controversy between
European and American deep-sea explorers
will be settled on this voyage OF the Abatross
The scientific men OF the Old World have al
ways contcndcd that tho sea is inhabited b.
various forms OF life at all depths. The Amer
10 han bn,, hat
tho Continental slopes is confined to al
upper layer Of the oceans surface at depth o
few hundred fathoms. and lower Iayc
consisting OF submarine fishes and anma
which live along the bottom OF tn" ocean. Th'
Albatross will drag nsts, which are opened an(
closed at any desired stage OF their descent
through all successive stages Of the ocean
depth and will thus he able 10 determine thu