TRANSACTIONS 



OF 



THE CROYDON MICROSCOPICAL AND 

 NATURAL HISTORY CLUB. 



1890-1. 



79. — Physical Conditions of the Sea. 



By Waltee Ceouch, F.Z.S. 



(Bead March 12th, 1890.) 



Mr. Ceouch, after stating tbat the sea had always been a 

 subject of great interest, not unmixed with awe, referred to some 

 of the ancient myths regarding it, quoting from several early 

 writers to support his remarks. Coming to our own day, he 

 alluded to the various expeditions that had been fitted out to 

 explore its depths, test its temperatures, and examine its fauna, 

 of which the following were mentioned : — The cruise of the 

 ' Lightning,' between Oban and Faroe Islands and a portion of 

 the N. Atlantic, in 1868 ; the cruises of the ' Porcupine ' of 1869- 

 70, the latter part of which was devoted to the Mediterranean. 

 The greatest expedition, however, was that of the ' Challenger,' 

 extending from Dec. 7th, 1872. to May 24th, 1876, and sailing 

 68,890 nautical miles, with a total of 362 observing stations, 

 the general results of which expedition are now pretty well 

 known. 



The lecturer then reviewed the general distribution of land 

 and water, stating that Prof. Dana concludes that the present 

 continental and oceanic areas began with the very commence- 

 ment of the solidification of the crust of the earth ; and although 

 changes, upheavals, re-depositions, &c., are going on, and have 

 been from all time, they do not do more than modify the 

 surface, and do not appear to have altered its main disposition. 

 Having referred to ocean depths, he stated that the greatest yet 

 sounded in the Atlantic was 3875 fathoms, and in the Pacific 

 4475 fathoms, the greatest depths being found near volcanic 



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