194 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



temperature soundings, and the determination not only of 

 the bottom temperature, but also of the intermediate strata. 

 For deep-water serial soundings, those from 250 fathoms down 

 to 1250 are considered desirable, after which the intervals 

 are to be filled up in such details as may seem important. 

 For this the instrument devised by Mr. Siemens is considered 

 especially adapted, although it is to be used in conjunction 

 with the Casella-Miller thermometer, the special object of this 

 being to ascertain how far the two instruments are compar- 

 able. It is anticipated that the most important results will 

 be in the Southern oceans. 



The determination of the movements of the ocean are to 

 be discussed under the twofold division of surface currents 

 and under-flow, both to be prosecuted by the apparatus al- 

 ready in use by the Admiralty. Tidal observations and bench- 

 marks, the specific gravity and transparency of the water, 

 and the relation of barometric pressure to latitude, are also 

 to be carefully attended to. 



Under the head of Chemical Observations, samples of sea- 

 water are to be collected for chemical analysis, and portions 

 of it boiled in vacuo, and the amount and nature of the gases 

 ascertained. Specimens of the sea bottom are to be brought 

 up, and carefully dried and preserved for future investiga- 

 tion. The gases contained in the swimming-bladders of fish- 

 es caught near the surface and at different depths are also 

 considered worthy of attention. It is thought that determi- 

 nations of the chlorine in sea-water can be made under ordi- 

 nary circumstances, but that no trustworthy analyses of gases 

 can be made on board ship, unless in harbor. 



The botanical work is to include collections of plants of all 

 interesting localities, and observations upon life, history, and 

 structure in special cases. Certain islands are mentioned in 

 the report, the botany of which is almost unknown. Among 

 those indicated are, in the Atlantic Ocean, Fernando de No- 

 ronha, Trinidad and Martin Vaz (off the Brazilian coast), and 

 Diego Ramirez ; in the Indian Ocean, the Ammirantes, Soco- 

 tra, Prince Edwards, the Crozets, and the Marion groups; in 

 the Pacific Ocean, the Marshall and Caroline islands, Masa- 

 fuera, Pitcairn, Bounty, Antipodes, Emerald, and Macquarie 

 islands. 



The indications in regard to botanical research are extreme- 



