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Mr. J. Y. Buchanan on Oceanic Besearch. [May 29, 



which sounding and dredging operations can be carried on with hemp 

 and with wire. In well appointed cable ships, soundings in 2000 

 fathoms of water can be made in an hour from start to finish, but in 

 order to do this the wire must be hove in as fast as possible and 

 breakages frequently occur. When the wire carries deep-sea 

 thermometers or other valuable instruments, it is impossible to work 

 at this rate with any regard to the safety of the instruments. With 

 hemp line the maximum rate of working can be observed whether the 

 line carries instruments or not, because, if the line has been properly 

 cared for, breakages do not occur. 



The following short table shows the ordinary rate at which deep 

 soundings were carried out on board the Challenger : — 



With regard to the dredge or trawl line, when clear of the bottom 

 it was brought up from 3000 fathoms at the average rate of 1000 

 fathoms per hour. 



In conclusion, I must thank you for the patient hearing which 

 you have given me while I have been reciting facts which to me are 

 old and to some of you will sound old-fashioned, but I am convinced 

 that to the majority of you they are new. I look forward to an early 

 date when I hope we shall meet again to hear the Prince's lecture 

 which has been so unfortunately postponed. 



[J. Y. B.] 



