Michael Sak- 



CHAPTER II 



THE SHIP AND ITS EQUIPMENT 



Importance of 

 development 

 of mechanical 

 aids in deep- 

 sea work. 



It has often been said that studying the depths of the sea is Hke 

 hovering in a balloon high above an unknown land which is 

 hidden by clouds, for it is a peculiarity of oceanic research that 

 direct observations of the abyss are impracticable. Instead of 

 the complete picture which vision gives, we have to rely upon a 

 patiently put together mosaic representation of the discoveries 

 made from time to time by sinking instruments and appliances 

 into the deep, and bringing to the surface material for examina- 

 tion and study. Our difficulties are greatly increased by the 

 fact that it is impossible to watch our apparatus at work. A 

 trawl, for instance, is lowered to a great depth, and a few . 

 fathoms below the surface it disappears from view ; later on it 

 is brought on board and found to be empty. Is this because 

 there was nothing to catch where it was operating, or has it 

 somehow or other got out of order, or failed to reach the bottom, 

 or met with some similar mishap, and so been prevented from 

 catching anything.'* These questions can only be answered by 

 examining the trawl when once more on deck, and drawing one's 

 conclusions accordingly. 



Obviously, therefore, the progress of oceanography depends 

 to a great extent upon the development of mechanical aids, by 

 which we mean not only the scientific instruments employed, 

 but also the whole arrangements of the ship itself. To be able 



