72 Xaturai. History Bulletin. 



steam-vessel, with steam to hoist the dredge. We. on the 

 contrary, beheved our plan practicable, and proposed to dem- 

 onstrate its feasibilit\-. if possible. 



This day. then, was to witness the crucial test of the expe- 

 dition, and of the equipment so carefully devised by Professor 

 Weld, from hints given by Doctor Alexander Agassiz. ]Mr. 

 Benedict. Assistant Cui'ator of Marine Invertebrates at the 

 Smithsonian Institution, was naturalist in charge of the United 

 States Fish Commission Steamer •• Albatross," when she made 

 her successful hauls of Pciitarriiiiis oif Morro Light. This 

 gentleman verv kindlv pointed out for our benefit the exact 

 spot on the chart from which these hauls were made, and gave 

 us valuable suggestions as to the best methods of securing the 

 crinoids. stronglv advising the use of tangles rather than trawls 

 or the dredge. 



At 10:15 -^- ^^-^ ^""'^ made our hrst soundings. Morro Castle 

 bearing S. W. by W.. distance one mile. The lead did not 

 reach the bottom. At 10:43 we made a second sounding, 

 with the same bearings from Morro Castle, and distant about 

 one and one-half miles, finding a depth of one hundred and 

 ten fathoms. The tallow at the bottom of the lead was eagerh- 

 scrutinized for indications of the nature of the sea-bottom at 

 this point, and we found, among fragments of coral, a fresh 

 arm-plate of a crinoid. This was good e^•idence that we were 

 over the pentacrinus ground, and the tangles were immediateh' 

 lowered, rapidly at hrst, until the\' were presumably nearing 

 the bottom, and then slowh. until the jerking on the rope 

 proved that the tangles were dragging. The wind w as N. \\.. 

 and just about enough of it for our purpose. The \essel w as 

 headed about N. W.. the current running east about three 

 knots per hour. We were, thus dredging almost directh' off 

 shore, or down the submarine declivity which leads soiuew hat 

 rapidl}' into deep water off the Cuban coast, just enough 

 headway was kept to drag the tangles without their juniji- 

 ing and hitching over the bottom. 



After allowing the tangles to drag for about t\\eiit\" minutes, 

 the crank to the crab \\as manned, and our 1ir^;t haul in deep 



