A SHORT HISTORY OF THE INVESTIGATIONS 5 



In the year 1845, Goodsir succeeded in obtaining 

 a good haul in Davis Straits, at a depth of 300 

 fathoms. It included Mollusca, Crustacea, Asterids, 

 Spatangi, and Corallines. 



In 1848, Lieutenant Spratt read a paper at the 

 meeting of the British Association at Swansea, on 

 the influence of temperature upon the distribution 

 of the fauna in the ^gean seas, and at the close of 

 this paper we find the following passage, confirming 

 in a remarkable way the work of previous investiga- 

 tors in the same field. He says : ' The greatest depth 

 at which I have procured animal life is 390 fathoms, 

 but I believe that it exists much lower, although the 

 general character of the ^gean is to limit it to 300 

 fathoms ; but as in the deserts we have an oasis, so in 

 the great depths of 300, 400, and perhaps 500 fathoms 

 we may have an oasis of animal life amidst the barren 

 fields of yellow clay dependent upon favourable and 

 perhaps accidental conditions, such as the growth of 

 nuUipores, thus producing spots favourable for the 

 existence and growth of animal life.' 



The next important discovery was that of the 

 now famous Globlgerina mud by Lieutenants Craven 

 and Maffit, of the American Coast survey, in 1853, 

 by the help of the sounding machine invented by 



