Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-02
LIFE IN DEEP SEA DISCOVERED
Scientists Scrape Bottom of Ocean and
Bring Up Many Monsters.
COMMERCIAL SALT BED FOUND
United States Steamer AIbatrOss Car
ries Expedition to Little Free
quented Parts-Trip Big
Gun

The United States steamer "Albatross,"
with a corps of scientific men on board,
has just completed an unusually interesting
expedition down the southern California
coast, around the peninsula, and back to
San Francisco.
The results of this voyage of discovery
and research were satisfactory to all con-
cerned. The party. in addition to the chief
DR.. C. II. Townsend, acting director of the
American Museum of Natural History in
New York, included DR., J. N. Rose of the
National museum in washington, botanist;
DR.. Paul Bartsch, ALSO of the National mu-
scum zoologist Waldo Schmidt, assistant
naturalist of the "Albatross," and Messrs.
Anthony and Osborn, well known west
coast collectors. The cruise lasted from
March / to April 2S
Live Seals Are Captured.
The party cruised along the coast of
lower California, stops being made at
Guadalupe island, San Benito, San Barto-
lone bay, Bay San Cristobal St. Rogue
island Point Abrojos, and many other
places, and then passed into the gulf Of
California, going as far as Tiburon and
Angel de la Guarda islands,
Several of the adult elephant seals were
killed at Guadalupe island, brought aboard
the ship and put in brine, while six Of the
younger animals, four males and two fe-
males, were captured alive. The adult ele-
plant seal is about twenty-five feet long
and has a snout or nose closely resembling
the trunk of the elephant from which it
derives it's name.
Guadalupe island offers excellent oppor-
tunities for exploration and geological re-
search. Here also was obtained a collec-
ton of fine specimens of many rare birds.
moliusks and plants. The island has pecu-
liarities. of its own, and the party found
animal and marine life not closely related
to that on the mainland.
In the Bay of San Cristobal formerly a
home OF the elephant seal, another effort
was made to locate more specimens but
none Of the animals was seen.
Following along the coast, landing fire.
quently, and making in the course Of the
trip twenty-five deep sea hauls. ranging
from 400 10 l.O7l fathoms, many interesting
kinds OF fish, crustaceans, mollusls and
sponges were brought to the surface.
Brought up with the deepest haul. that of
| 6426 feet, were seven species of deep sea
fish. five kinds of crimson prawn, several
with blue eggs, one large pycnognid, many
worms living in soft tubes. one great star
fish. several brittle stars and numerous
other specimens.
New Mountain sheep Found.
In Magdalena bay were found many in
teresting species OF marine invertebrates.
Here the scientists collected a quantity OF
shallow water specimens. At Angel de la
Guarda, Tiburon and St. Esteban islands.
they found many lizards OF the general
Sauromallus and Ctenosaura.
On Carmen island they encountered a
wonderful salt pond, on which was coat
ing between four and five inches thick.
This crust is removed in large cakes,
which are ground TO the fineness Of or
binary commercial salt. The salt is shipped
from the island in large quantities.
What Is believed to be a new species OF
mountain sheep was discovered on the
west side OF Conception bay. The scien-
lists, however, were unable to get close
enough to capture any OF the sheep. but
three sets OF horns were obtained from
local hunters
Near Angel de la Guarda island stick
OF dynamite was exploded in the water.
killing or stunning large number of fish.
which noated to the surface. SO many
came to the top of the water that 1t proved
a big task 10 gather in the different speci-
mems.
TiburOn island also proved a fertile
ground for Investigation Many things OF
unusual interest were found there. the
island never having been explored since
Admiral Dewey years ago made the
original survey. He was then a captain
In command OF the United States steam
kship Narraganset. Important investiga-
lions were also made at La Paz. the great
gathering ground and shippInn ulaea for
pearls. On the way back to San Francisco