Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-07

SterS and chimeras dire in the depths
of the ocean which no mortal eye has
ever seen or imagination pictured. Pro
lessor Agassiz has gone SO far as to say
that ne believes there is such Il thing
as the sea serpent-at all event, an ami
mai corresponding more or less to the
description given of that marine terror
1t certainly seems likely that some pro-
d1Gous creature by it's occasional ap-
pearances afforded Il basis of truth
TO what is SO generally supposed to be
myth, observation concerning the
peast having been n matter of written
history for at least 5000 wears
II any sharks exist in the ocean, one
would naturally expect to find them at
great depths, for. though the inter-
mediate waters are SO barren of life,
the bottom has its own peculiar fauna.
certainly rich and assuredly strange to
the point of weirdness. This abyssal
region specially invites the interest of
the Albatross expedition and is reached
by means of huge net set in a frame
called q trawl. To lower this apparatus
to the bottom at a depth of three miles
ana haul 1t up again takes most of q
day. necessary preliminary being to
make sounding. The sounding Is
made by means of n line of piano wire,
which carries a thermometer and a lit
tie cup with spring bottom, as we'll
as a heavy weight. When the weight
reaches the bottom the thermometer
registers the temperature. while the
cup scoops up a sample of the ooze
from the sea- floor.
The depth being ascertained it Is
known how far to let down the trawl-
very important point, because, If too
much line were paid out" the trawl
would plunge into the mud, it's net
would plunge away, and perhaps the
apparatus would be lost entire Once
lowered properly. the trawl is dragged
along the sea bottom, and after while
Is pulled to the surface, and on board
of the vessel with such contents as it
may have gathered. Its big net is lined
inside with n series OF smaller ones of
varying 1inenesS of mesh, so as 10 re-
tain unimuts- OF dtfrcrenr- sizes, wiIitc
to the bottom of it are attached several
long tails of ravcled rope, called
"tangles," for capturing -urchins,
starnshes, corals, etc. When fetched
upon deck the trawl is dumped into the
topmost meShes and those animals
which remain fast in the inside pocket
nets or enmeshcd in the tanGles are
carefully picked out.
Prof. Agassiz reports that the trawl,
which was hauled nearly every day on
the voyage from the Marquesas to
Tahiti. has done most satisfactory
work. bringing up from the depths
many a priceless specimen. When the
net is drawn. he and his assistant
nlturailStS HfSt divide the animals
roughly into two groupS-one compris-
ing the very perishable specimens and
tho other embracing the less delicate
ones. The former are put into glass
Jars. while the latter (such as the fishes
and larger crustaceans) are consigned
to large tanks. Next, the colors of the
fishes and other creatures whose tints
are likely to fade are sketched because
otherwise this point of knowledge in
respect to their appearance would be
forever lost.
RESEMBLE THE CUTTLEFISH.
The Albatross expedition Is making a
special study of cephalopods-cuttle-
fish-like animals. which. as has re-
Gently been ascertained, exist in amaz-
ing numbers and in great variety of
species in the depths of the ocean. One
reason why they are so interesting is
that they represent an extremely an
cient form of life. the rocks OF to-day