V. 



The " Albatross " Expedition.' 



THE brief sketch of the work accomplished by the U.S. Fish Com- 

 mission steamer " Albatross " last spring in the Pacific Ocean, 

 now given to us, is most interesting, and stimulates the expecta- 

 tion with which we look for more detailed results in the near future. 

 The cruise lasted from February 22 till April 23, and may be said to 

 have consisted of four distinct stages (i) from Panama to Cocos 

 Island and Malpelo Island and back to Panama, (2) from Panama 

 to Galera Point and the Galapagos Islands, (3) from the Galapagos 

 Islands to Acapulco, (4) from Acapulco to Guaymas in the Gulf of 

 California. The work accomplished comprised dredging and tow- 

 netting, both on the surface and at various depths, temperature and 

 current observations, and some investigations into the physical and 

 biological conditions of the Galapagos Islands. We shall endeavour 

 to summarise as briefly as possible the results of these various lines 

 of research. 



The contour of the sea-bed on the Pacific side of the Isthmus of 

 Panama is very different from that observed on the Atlantic shore. 

 On the latter we have great submarine banks extending from Yucatan, 

 Honduras, and Venezuela, with deep basins in the Gulf of Mexico 

 and the Caribbean Sea. On the western side there is a deep trench 

 more than 2,000 fathoms deep, widening as it approaches the land, 

 and maintaining this depth till it is not far away (often within 

 100 miles) from the shore. The Galapagos Islands form the summit of 

 a large bank, shaped like an inverted comma, the 1,500-fathom line 

 stretching out in a point which takes in Cocos Island, and almost 

 meets the line of similar depth from the shore just off Cape Mariato. 

 Comparatively few soundings have been made among the Galapagos 

 Islands themselves, and no detailed contours are given on the chart 

 of this group. 



The bottom deposit was most often characteristic Globigerina 

 ooze, and on one occasion the trawl was completely filled with a 

 species of Rhahdammina. At two places near Cape Mariato patches 

 of modern greensand were discovered. It is important to notice that 



1 General Sketch of the Expedition of the " Albatross," from February to 

 May, 1891. By Alexander Agassiz. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., xxiii., pp. 1-89, 22 

 maps and plates, 1892. 



