334 Recent Advances in Oceanography [Feb. 12, 



sounding was 2900 fathoms, rather more than 3^ miles. The work 

 was not carried out without considerable difficulty, labour, and dis- 

 comfort. Usually sounding platform, sounding machine and workers 

 were covered with ice from the frozen water carried aboard by the 

 incoming wire. Pack-ice floating in the water formed an additional 

 difficulty, with the risk of it carrying away the sounding wire and 

 valuable instruments attached to it. 



The discovery of Coats Land, which was named in recognition 

 of the support that Mr. James Coats, Jun., and Major Andrew 

 Coats gave, added half a million square miles to the supposed 

 area of the Antarctic continent, and defined the southern limits of 

 Antarctic seas in those longitudes. The deep-sea zoological collec- 

 tions of the " Scotia " were absolutely unique. Dr. Bruce, finally, 

 emphasized the importance of carrying out further hydrographical 

 research in Antarctic seas. A circumpolar oceanographical expedition 

 was the most important work yet to be carried out in the South Polar 

 regions. 



Dr. Bruce's discourse was illustrated by a specially fine set of 

 lantern-slides, and by a large series of diagrams and deep-sea instru- 

 ments lent by the Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory. Besides 

 these, he also showed a number of animals that had been captured by 

 the " Scotia " naturalists in Antarctic seas in all depths and latitudes ; 

 most of these animals were new to science, and many were taken from 

 depths exceeding 2500 fathoms, or three miles, and have not been 

 taken by any other iintarctic expedition. The price of one battle- 

 ship, said Dr. Bruce, would permanently endow Antarctic exploration. 

 Given the brains multiplied by sound physical constitution and 

 experience, then money multiplied by time would solve every 

 Antarctic problem at sea or ashore. 



[W.S.B.] 



