Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-10-28
STUDYING THE SEA BOTTOM
Interesting Work Being Done Along
the Maine COuat

IL mas long been well known fact that
the coast Of Maine attracts as many nat
uralists during the summer months Is any
part Of the Atlantic seaboard. These
rugged shores have been very productive
in their yield of marine life to the scien-
fist.
Small colonies OF nature students are
found all along the coast, and especially
at Eastport, Dark Harbor, North Haven,
Bar Harbor, and many other places, and
their labors have added much to the scien-
tihc knowledge Of our fauna and flora.
Many years ago Prof. Aggasiz, Of Har-
ward university, spent many seasons at
Eastport dredging and studying the ma
rine life Of that place. As far back Is 1854
Daturalists worked along this coast, and
their reports form the basis OF all more re-
cent studies Of this exceedingly rich and
interesting faunal region.
For several seasons J. B. Henderson, IT,,
OF Washington, d. c., and DR.. H. c. Chap
man, Of Philadelphia, have been engaged
in this work around Frenchman's bay and
on the islands in the bay. They estab-
lished laboratory and have used the
thirty-five foot cruising boat "Doris,"
which belongs to Mr.. Henderson, with
which to dredge. The boat is in charge of
Capt. c. B. Mitchell, OF Nicolin, who is
familiar with all these waters, and knows
the sea bottom as well as most men know
their own back yards. He has been very
valuable assistant as an expert collector.
There is probability that next season
will see much greater activity about Bar
Harbor in this work. Already several OF
the summer colony have developed much
interest in the work, notably Alessandro
Fabbri, Mrs. William Alexander and
Dwight Blaney, the owner Of Iron Bound
island. They have done much in the
way Of collecting specimens, and are fire.
quent visitors at the little laboratory.
The boat already mentioned is fitted
with all kinds Of dredges and other par
aphernalia to gather specimens from the
depths of the ocean. For the most part
the dredges resemble those used by the
fishermen in catching scallops. They are
about seven feet long and five feet wide,
with nets Of fine mesh. Some OF the other
dredges are equipped with even finer linen
mesh, which is used to catch the smallest
forms OF animal life.
Another dredge which catches the eye
OF the observer consists OF piece of iron
about eight feet long and slightly "
shaped; from this hangs series OF small
threads or ropes unravelled from large
hawsers; this makes tangle or snarl
about five feet long. This drag is used on
extremely rough bottom where the other
dredges would catch among the rocks and
sharp lodges. As this is dragged over the
bottom many creatures catch or rather
close themselves over the small strands of
the warp and are thus brought to the sur
face.
After days dredging the catch is taken
to the laboratory, where the different
species and varieties Of animal life are
sorted and close study and observation
are there made of them.
DR.. Chapman has done a large part of
the laboratory work in connection with
Mr.. Henderson, and their tabulations and
reports have been q great addition to the
subject. Mr.. Henderson has written sew
CIhl DOOAo, uho cOltcu uohy
treat on this subject, and is recognized
authority in this line.
DR.. Chapman, who uses this work as q
side line or rather as ''hobby," is also a
recognized authority, and his works and
findings take very high standing. He
has also studied under Huxley and Haeckel
and distinguished European naturalists,
and occasionally visits the famous labo-
ratories at Naples for special research
work. Most of the collecting thus far has
been done in from ten to sixty fathoms
of water in and around Frenchman's bay
and to the eastward.
"The marine fauna Of Maine," says
Mr.. Henderson, sis made up in part OF a
special fauna of its own and in part of an
aggregation of more northern forms,
properly belonging to more northern and
colder waters. Some of these northern
forms are identical with species found in
Europe and throughout the Borreal and
Arctic regions.
SAT Cape Cod there is fair divisional
faunsl line owing to the higher tempera-
ture of the water. South Of that point,
from Cape Cod to Hatteras, is another
fauna, and from Hatteras, South to Flor
ida, Antillean species predominate.
The distribution of animal life in depth
| is of late becoming better known. 1t is
found that many creatures living along
| the shores and near the low tide mark
say Labrador and Newfoundland, are
found living in depths of 100 to 500 faith
| oms off the Massachusetts and Jersey and
even the Virginia coasts.
SIT would appear that temperature has
much to do with the life economy of ma
| zine animals, for the shore waters of La
brador and at the depths of 100 fathoms
or more off our coast are about equally
cold. Going below 500 fathoms into the
abysmal depths of the ocean, 1000 to 1000
fathoms, another aggregation of animal
| life is encountered called the ,'deep sea
fauna. 1t is worldwide in extent, for
xrhora undar the euuafOr 0r off