The Columbus journal., 1910-09-21
IN OCEAN DEPTHS.

science of oceanography is progressing
with giant strides. 1t is only . very
short time since the first attempts to
investigate submarine conditions were
made, and the difficulties in the path
ofthe pioneers were such Is to de.
mand the highest degree of ingenuity
on their part at every step they took.
Just q very few years ago. mans
knowledge stopped a triaing distance
below the crests of the waves. Now
quite q little has been discovered
about matters at a depth of about
twenty thousand feet. The extra tenn.
perature of the water at that depth
has been ascertained. And among
many curious facts established in this
connection is the one that the tenn.
perature, at that great depth, is al.
most the same in the North Atlantic
and Indian oceans, there being . diff.
ference of scarcely one degree.
As the pressure of the water is so
great that it pulverizes gass tubes at
a depth of less than nineteen thousand
feet, and as ordinary steel tubes are
crushed at little more than twenty
thousand feet, it is easy to realize
what inventive faculties were neces-
sary in the construction of the in
struments required in these research.
es. And what Of the skill shown in
making contrivances that can be low.
cred some twenty thousand feet, only
to open automatically at that depth
Cor any other lesser depth decided on
capture specimens of animal life found
there, and bring them safely up to
the exploring ship?
Contrivances such as those just
mentioned have rendered it possible
to secure wonderfully colored speci.
mems of animal life at depths of not
much less than 10000 feet, some
specimens delicate pink, others q
beautiful violet, others again a bright
scarlet, while some were exquisitely
shaped, all of the specimens blind
though, sight being useless at depths
where eternal obscurity reigns.
At a depth of 100 feet, in water of
average translucency. in cloudy
weather, one can not distinguish a
rock, about cubic yard in size, at
more than twenty-five to thirty feet.
This naturally provoked the desire to
ascertain how far down daylight pen.
etrates, and how long it lasts at var
ious depths. Photographic plates
have been used for the tests, as many
as half a dozen to dozen ingeniously
cameras being simultan-
eousIy lowered to various depths on
one line, absolutely accurate results
being invariably obtained. Fishes
require animal or plant food, and a.
far down as 900 feet fishes are found
that feed on both animals and plants.
Below that depth there are only car
nivorous fishes, as plant life ceases, on
account of the absence of light, at less
than 1000 feet.
In some waters, at depths far below
The lowest point reached by the suns
rays, luminous bacteria shed light.
Not long ago hall, in which an
oceanographic meeting was being held,
vas illuminated by means Of myriatis
IF these bacteria in water brought
rom the depths Of the sea. The water
vas in very large glass bottles placed
around the walls, and the effect oh.
aimed was that of bright moonlight.
Not only were those present able to
recognize each other, but the play of
he features could be distinguished
without the slightest difficulty. These
however, are not found in
III waters, possibly on account of the
'arying chemical contents of sea
water, samples Of which obtained at
many depths, in many seas) have been
objected to careful chemical analysis.
Water was obtained. for instance at
epths of twelve to thirteen hundred
Get in the Baltic sea, not far from the
cast ofSweden, and found t. contain
UGH percentage Of carbolic acid "a
o preclude animal life. The chemi.
al analysis of sea water. by the by,
as made it possible to determine
here water comes from, when taken
rom points where ocean currents are
o longer otherwise discernible, al.
hOugh the water of those currents at
he given points has not yet become
liked with the surrounding water
efficiently to lose its characteristics.
To return to the luminous bacteria,
is a curious fact that many varieties