SIR JOHN MURRAY. 855 



published in a series of six volumes, finished in 1910. This is probably 

 the most complete work of its kind in existence. 



Chiefly for the purpose of testing in deep water various new appara-^ 

 tus which had lately been used in shallow seas, Murray organized an 

 oceanographic expedition to the North Atlantic in 1910, under the 

 auspices of the Norwegian Government. He financed this enterprise 

 himself, with the exception of the salaries of the government assistants, 

 who were in charge of Dr. Johan Hjort. In his capacity of promoter 

 and advisor of the cruise, Murra}^ was cooped up and tossed about 

 for several months, when nearly seventy, in the uncomfortable little 

 steamer Michael Sars ; a hardship that he made light of, for he loved 

 the ocean which he knew so well. 



In 1912 Murray and Dr. Hjort collected the results of the voyage 

 in a volume entitled "The Depths of the Ocean." This publication, 

 a valuable reference-book on thalassography, contains a complete 

 summary of oceanography, it treats of the apparatus, the manner 

 of its use and the ends reached in this science; while it brings the 

 whole subject up to date with a description of the work accomplished 

 by the Michael Sars. 



To commemorate the memory of a close friendship, Murray gave 

 a fund to the National Academy at Washington, establishing the 

 Alexander Agassiz Medal, which is to be awarded occasionally for 

 distinguished work in Oceanography. On the occurrence of its first 

 award in 1913, the Academy adopted the following course. They 

 selected Dr. Hjort for the honor, and sent a replica of the Medal to 

 Murray. 



It is hoped that at the end of the present war, a similar tribute can 

 be offered through The Royal Society, which will establish a Sir John 

 Murray Medal. 



The Zoological stations on the Firth of Forth and on the Firth of 

 Clyde were founded by him. It was in part due to his eflforts that the 

 meteorological observatory on Ben Nevis was created. 



He took a keen interest in Polar Exploration, and made a journey to 

 Norway for the express purpose of seeing Nansen start on his attempt 

 to reach the North Pole. He first suggested the idea that the land 

 around the South Pole is one continuous continent, which the explor- 

 ations of Scott and Amundsen have done much to substantiate. The 

 stimulus that Antarctic research received from Murray's enthusiastic 

 support, was a powerful factor in materializing at least one of those 

 expeditions. 



Murray was the authority on deep sea deposits. Many of the 



