Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
Hunting Deeb-SmWodnyW >M BowandA,r00

I'VE hope that these hooks will attract the.
attention Of the larger fish in these dark
regions and that we will be able to capture
specimens never before seen by man.
THAT strange shapes inhabit these regions
is almost certain, because we were fortunate
enough to find the dead body of q deep-sea
squid or octopus floating on the surface. The.
body was four feet across and 1t must have,
been fearsome spectacle in its native habitat.
ALSO, as an aid to deep-sea study, We are,
building pressure tanks which will be used to,
house the deep-sea fish as soon as they are,
caught. The variations in pressure between
shallow and deep water are so great that fish
coming from below cannot adjust themselves.
to lesser pressures and so die within a short;
time. Phe pressure tanks will enable US to,
adjust the pressure to the needs Of the fish
and keep these deep-sea jewellers alive for,
study
Although the waters around Bermuda ara.
infested with shark and barracuda no member.
of the expedition has become involved in a.
struggle with either Of these species while,
making trips under water"
Nonsuch Island, the headquarters of the ex-.
petition, is about IS acres In area. The build.
ings include morgue and a cemetery. which
are relics Of the time when the island was used
as quarantine station.
AS the deep-sea work Of the expedition
progresses, great quantities of luminescent or.
gans are being obtained from the fish, Miss.
HOLSTER is planning q chemical examination
OF the nature of this cold illumination, and her.
research win be conducted along the lines Of.
discovering how 1t is possible for fish to manu-.
facture their own light
One Of the discoveries among this type Of,
sea life was o nsh with one set Of red-light;
organs and right behind 1t set of yellow-light;
organs-probably complete trafhc-light equip-.
ment for deep-sea travel
We have three diving helmets which are,
In constant use by members Of the expedition, -
says Miss HOLSTER. 1.-THE diving helmet Is,
made Of copper and Is only headpiece The,
use Of this equipment instead of the full-length
diving suit makes it unnecessary to carry so,
much extra weight In walking about undersea..
The remainder Of the outfit is bathing suit
In using the bow and arrow, the shooting.
Is done in the regular way, but one has to get.
used to Steadying oneself in the water and also,
become accustomed TO the fact that the motions,
OF the body are slower because the limbs must,
be pushed through the water in making any,
movement.
When hunting for fish in this way, the object;
Is to get large fish which attract attention a.
desirable specimens They can't always be.
caught with hook, but If struck in the side
Dy an arrow they are stunned and float to the,
surface, where some one is waiting to haul
them aboard
GIT May be possible to so farther than 60
feet in . diving helmet but experts have
warned us not to 60 any deeper The Ex-
plorers Club has given flag No. 23 to the expedi-
ton. Its predecessors have been planted in the
most remote parts Of the world, and before We
leave Bermuda We expect to plant this one
deeper down than any emblem has ever been
placed.
The use Of the motion picture camera pre-
sents no dimcultS, IS 1t is inclOsed In q
brass case and the legs are weighted so that
1t sinks down easily to where the operator
wishes to work.
The expedition has been visited by Henry
Fairfield Osborn, the famous scientist: Prof.
Harvey OF Princeton well known as the inyesti-
gator OF cold light, and Arthur K Mees Of
Me Kodak Laboratories. who brought us q
new instrument for photographing In natural
color"
1t is DR.. Beebe's plan to cover only one SQUARE
mile OF the sea and get clear picture of the
lie IN the varied depths Is far down as present
methods Of investigation make 1t possible to
60 His research aims to disclose what goes
on from the surface through all the strata Of
sea life down TO the depth of one mile
Members Of the staff in addition to DR. Beebe
and Miss HOLSTER are: John Teeyan. general
assistant; william X. Gregory, scientific as
Soclate; William Merriam; field tschnician:
Helen Teevan, artist; Robert Whitelaw, photog.
rapher, and Llewellyn Miller