The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-09

reports cannot be verified md notice Is is-
sued to mariners that the danger said to
exist at certain point cannot be found.
Thus, in 1897, a careful search was made
for tho Culdado reef that had been re-
ported between Marigunna and Little
Inagua and where the Clarion shoal was
said to DO situated, fifteen miles from
Great Inagua, the least depth Of water was
234 fathoms. A number OF instances OF
alleged discoveries that cannot DO found
occur every year, and often the non-exist-
cnco OF these reported dangers is after
wards positively proved.
All ship masters who sail through the
Strait OF Belle Isle. Newfoundland. will be
glad thnt this uncertain stretch OF water
hes Mt last been thoroughly surveyed Tho
work was begun In 1897 and completed
laet year. Marked differences in the depths
were discovered and other new facts were
chartcd that will be Of service to vessels
particularly In thick weather. Sometimes
the existence OF extensive banks or shoals
is reported most frequently in tho Pacific
Ocenn. end then It devolvcs upon Govern
ment survey vessels to make a thorough
investigation to ascertain whether a new
danger to navigation has been discovered.
THUS, in 1890, number OF banks were re-
ported north Of the Fiji Islands, extending
over several degrees OF longitude, and in
1897 an Admiralty vessel spent consider
able time taking soundings on these banks.
Their nearest approach to the surface was
found to be flfty-four feet and no danger
was discovered on any Of them.
Tho islands Tint are now and then raised
above thn anrfppn hI- anl,po n ri Ip1pn n In
a1t!vity are carefully watched for they are
likely 10 be washed away, leaving no sign
nj tho surface but perhaps n shoal beneath
It. II they are In the track OF shipping
thcy arc visited every year, and in 1898
two OF them were reported to have disap-
peared. Metis Island originated from a
volcanic eruption in 1875. aud twenty-three
years elapsed before It was washed away.
but beneath the surface Is the reef the coral
had begun to build on this unstable fountla-
ton. Falcon Island had still shorter ex-
istcncc. 1t emerged from the sea in I sS5
as an island about two miles long and go
feet high. Composed entirely OF ashes it
had been washing away ever since, till the
last vestige OF it disappeared year ago.
The survey vessels OF several Govern
ments also engage to a considerable extent
in deep-sea Investigations Last year the
very deep depression discovered in 1895
southeast OF the Tonga group was ex-
plored to its eastern limit where it was
found to be little more than narrow gut
ter, running north and south. year
earlier deep soundings were made outside
the enormous depths OF over 4, 900 fathoms
found in 1890 forty miles from the coast
of Chill. between Huasco and Chaharal, by
the cable steamer Relay. The recent work
shows that this great depression is mar
row trough. parallel with the coast and
the chain Of the Andes.
Some recent studies of ocean currents
have revealed curious anomalies and mys-
titled rather than illumined the subject Of
these rivers in the oceans. Admiralty sur
veys, in s97, TO ascertain the depth and
velocity of the equatorial current, had
some startling results for it appeared that
below depth of sixty feet the water was
practically still. though running to the
westward at the surface at rate Of four
fifths OF knot an hour. This calls to mind
the discovery Of Prof. NATHoRsT on the
west coast of Spitzbergen last year. He
found that at the entrance to Ice Fiord the
wal ""eci VI Nfuil EDlItdlu
mated to the bottom at depth Of 22O
fathoms, while in 1890 GUSTAV NoRDENs-
KJ0LD found that the Gulf Stream at that
place was simply superficial current,
flowing over much larger volume OF cold
water. The relations of the Gulf Stream with
the surrounding waters had thus been ma
terially changed. For some years this
great ocean stream seems to have been
flowing in volume exceptionally wide and
deep, and to this fact NATHoRsT attributes
the unusually favorable condition Of the
ice which enabled him last year to make
the first circumnavigation Of the Spitz-
bergen group.
Government surveys in oceanic waters
for the benefit of navigation will never
cease because changes are constantly oc-
curing both near shore and in the deep
sea that require new surveys and amended
editions OF the charts. The reports every
| year, particularly from our Hydrographic
and the British Admiralty offices, never fail
to contain much matter OF particular i'm
portance to mariners and also OF interest
| to all who desire to kno OF the changes
that nature Is constantly working both In
| the sub-aerial and submarine rock surface
| Of tho earth.