72 THE LAST CRUISE OF THE CARNEGIE 



tremendous variety of form displayed by these tiny organisms, 

 when we held the sample bottles to the light. 



Since this Atlantic crossing was intended to be a "shake-down" 

 cruise, and we were to take aboard several essential oceanographic 

 instruments in Germany, we will not describe the routine of a 

 station until later. Nevertheless, the salinity of each sample 

 was measured by Soule, with the electric resistance-bridge; and 

 Seiwell determined phosphates, silicates, and hydrogen-ion con- 

 centration. 



While May 12 gave us our best day's run, May 13 demonstrated 

 what strong currents may be encountered, for we made 69 sea- 

 miles due east from this cause alone. 



The ship had been supplied with a solarimeter, for ineasuring 

 the quantity of radiation reaching the earth from the sun. We 

 gave it a first trial on the 13th, but it was at once apparent that 

 conditions would not be favorable for using it on a sailing ship. 

 The effects of rolling and pitching were minimized by mounting 

 in gimbals the sensitive photoelectric cell; but the greatest dif- 

 ficulty was shade cast by the rigging, and back reflection from 

 the lofty sails. After a few more trials it was found impracticable. 

 The information it gives is used in studies of world-weather. It 

 would have made an excellent adjunct to our meteorological 

 program, for we were concerned with heat-transfers between sea 

 and air, and with evaporation-rates in various regions. 



For a week following our first oceanographic station we had 

 wretched weather and rough seas, and we did not risk losing equip- 

 ment to occupy a second station. However, the observers were 

 busy enough working up the results of the first, and getting ac- 

 quainted with their new duties. Besides this, many of us had to 

 restow our equipment to avoid breakage in the ugly seas we were 

 entering. Fortunately, we suffered no serious damage from 

 breakage during the whole cruise. 



During this time echo-soundings were made at regular intervals, 

 and the magnetic and electric observations were not seriously 

 interrupted. Parkinson obtained valuable records of the electric 

 state of the atmosphere, in spite of the miserable working con- 

 ditions. He had also made many counts of the "dust-particles" 



