H.M.S. "Challenger 



Shortenins; sail to sound. 



CHAPTER I 



A BRIEF HISTORICAL REVIEW OF OCEANOGRAPHICAL 

 INVESTIGATIONS 



The phenomena displayed at the surface of the ocean have Development 

 been the object of observation from the earliest ages, — waves, scjenceTf^^'^'^ 

 currents, winds, tides, and the temperature of the water were oceanography. 

 matters of very great importance and concern to the earliest 

 navigators. It was not, however, till about the time of the 

 famous "Challenger" Expedition, nearly forty years ago, that 

 any systematic attempts were made to examine the deeper and 

 more remote regions, or to explore the physical and biological 

 conditions of the ocean as a whole. 



It seems desirable to commence this book by indicating, as 

 briefly as possible, the various steps by which the present 

 development of the modern science of oceanography has been 

 reached. This can best be accomplished by (i) pointing out 

 some of the scientific observations made previous to the 

 "Challenger" Expedition, (2) referring to the expeditions 

 contemporaneous with and subsequent to that expedition, and 

 {3) referring to the work carried out at marine biological 

 laboratories, and in connection with international and other 

 fishery investigations. 



B 



