Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-10-03
SEAGOING BOTTLES.
Thousands of Them Getting 1nfor.
nation for the Government.

Baltimore Sun; Drifting about tn,
north Atlantic ocean, susceptible to the
varying changes of waves and winds
are hundreds OF common beer bottles
thrown overheard by ships OF the
American and Russian merchant SER
! vice and occasionally picked up aud
reported to the photographic offices OF
these governments. This is In the In
terest of a scientific research instituted
few years ago to determine the direc-
ton taken by bodies coming under the
| Influences of streams and currents of
which little is known by the physical
geographers.
The methods employed are simple
and the results obtained are expected
to prove of inestimable value to com
mercial interests generally, while re-
moving many doubtful questions aris-
ing out Of the tortuous drift OF dere-
licts which heretofore have been re-
garded as correct examples OF the d.
rections ships would take when aban-
doned to the influences OF ocean cur
rents.
Thousands OF these bottles contain
| ing minute directions printed In seven
different languages are annually
thrown into the sea under the super
vision of the American navy depart
ment, with the expectation that many
will be found and rescued by passing
vessels, their location noted and the
fact reported at Washington. Each
bottle contains written direction az
to what shall be done by the skipper
OF the ship finding It. He IN supposed
To note the latitude and longitude where
II was sighted where II was thrown In
to the sea, and to estimate the prob
able distance traversed since originally
thrown overheard, by which the gen
eral direction taken may be reckoned.
Reports received at the navy depart
ment for the last fiscal year indicate
that much valuable information is be-
ing derived regarding the direction OF
important currents and that the sim
pie process employed is proving ad-
mirably adapted 10 the purposes
sought.
Russia is closely cooperating with
this government in carrying ont the
idea and instructions are issued by the
photographic oMe9 that any bottle
picked up at sea by the skipper Of some
ship not OF that government shall be at
once reported All American and Rus
sian merchant and warsbips are eX-
pected to note the locality OF the bot
ties they may find drifting about and
again TO turn them adr1ft after observ-
ing the original place they were thrown
into the sea indicated on the water
proof paper supplied by the two gov
ernments to ships assisting In the plan.
Recent reports present some remark
able drifts OF bottles. several having
gone az FAR as the distance across the
ocean and one double that distance.
They vary from only few miles TO
over thirty-five day. which Is almost
iho average of the usual derellct e1-
posed to the wind and often borne
along rapidly by the small portion Of
woodwork above water EeryiDg az
catch for the breezes. One bottle has
the record Of 1900 miles traversed In
557 days at the average rate Of seven
and a half miles a day. This bottle
was thrown overheard from the ship
comilohank Of the Spanish merchant
service. another dritted $500 miles In
ss4 days. at the average Of FIVE and
half miles day. while third Travelled
3 900 miles in ATS days
The most remarkable drift OF all,