298 THE LAST CRUISE OF THE CARNEGIE 



deposit were required. The new theodolite sent to us by the 

 Navy Department was a great improvement since the field of 

 vision was increased. 



Forbush gave the gravity-apparatus its first trials. As this 

 instrument had never before been used on a surface-vessel, but 

 only on a submarine, difficulties were anticipated. They came — 

 thick and fast. First, the heavy rolling threw a pendulum out 

 of its support. On the next trial, it was found that the foot- 

 screws were not rigidly enough clamped down. Then it became 

 apparent that some means must be devised for damping the 

 motion of the apparatus. Finally, it was decided that only a 

 new mounting would solve the difficulties. Notwithstanding 

 these setbacks several useful traces were secured. 



On September 7 a new peak on the ocean-floor was discovered. 

 This submarine mountain rises about ten thousand feet above 

 the general level of the bottom. We named this Hayes Peak 

 after Dr. Harvey C. Hayes of the Naval Research Laboratory 

 in Washington who had developed the sonic depth-finder for the 

 Navy. The slopes are very steep, there being a rise of 8,500 

 feet in the distance of six miles. 



For a long time we had been casting about for some good form 

 of evening relaxation. There was little enthusiasm for card- 

 playing, while reading books and magazines failed to give us what 

 we wanted. So at Parkinson's suggestion a grand ping-pong 

 tournament was arranged. There were difficulties. Some of the 

 men had never played the game while others were almost experts. 

 The problem was solved by holding a preliminary meet to deter- 

 mine handicaps. During the final games Soule stood by with a 

 slide-rule and calculated the standing of each player to three or 

 four decimals. In the end, the new men came out far ahead for 

 they had shown the greatest improvement in their game. 



On September 13 we again entered the region where the sea is 

 covered with velella or "by-the-wind sailors." These creatures 

 cannot be captured in a dip-net without destroying the delicate 

 blue tentacles which surround them. It was quite an art to catch 

 them in a canvas-bucket with the ship under way and rolling 

 heavily. 



