4 PETTERSSON 



Bathymetrique," usually called the "Monaco Map." It is still being 

 edited from the Bureau and the publication of the fourth edition has just 

 been started, although, mainly for lack of funds, the working up of new 

 data, enormously increased through the use of echo-soundings, has per- 

 force been much retarded. It is not only of great scientific importance 

 but also from an aesthetic point of view most decorative and it should 

 certainly be acquired both by oceanographic institutes and by museums, 

 schools, and other seats of learning and instruction. 



The activities of the Prince were not limited to oceanography alone. 

 He took a keen interest also in pre-history and had a special museum in 

 Monaco devoted to archeological finds, especially those made to the east 

 of Monaco on the Franco-Italian frontier in the Roches Rouges, of 

 skeletons and artifacts from the Cro-Magnon race formerly inhabiting 

 these caves. 



Through munificent donations the Prince tried to assure the financial 

 future of his different foundations and the series of publications he had 

 started. However, the devaluation of the franc following on the first 

 and still more the second world war made the interest from this capital 

 dwindle to a small fraction of its original value. Largely thanks to the 

 relatively great income from entrance fees to the Museum in Monaco 

 its activities, although on a reduced scale, could be continued and even 

 those of the Oceanographic Institute in Paris secured. 



It is sincerely to be hoped that Monaco will ultimately resume its 

 position as a center of European deep-sea research not only for its great 

 traditions from Albert's time but also for its favored position, quite 

 close to relatively great depths and with free access to the Mediter- 

 ranean, one of the most fascinating of all seas with its active and extinct 

 volcanoes, its highly varied bottom configuration, and its early impor- 

 tance in the migration of animals and men from Africa to Europe and 

 vice versa, which make it eminently worthy of intensive study. For- 

 tunately the young Prince Rainier III, the present ruler of Monaco, 

 seems to have inherited from his great grandfather an absorbing interest 

 in the sea and its living world. It is to be hoped that under his rule 

 his princedom may once more become a focus of deep-sea research. 



Unfortunately the present outlook for international cooperation in 

 deep-sea research in Europe is not hopeful. A promising nucleus for 

 international cooperation in the study of the deep sea and of the ocean 

 floor, its geology and its fauna, the "Joint Commission on Oceanography" 

 set up under the protection of the Unesco has been disbanded after sev- 

 eral years of successful activities by the Executive Board of the Inter- 

 national Council of Scientific Unions. 



