198 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [CHAP. IV. 
ensuing summer, as well as the scientific preparations which 
would be required for a new expedition, beg leave to report as 
follows :— 
“The general course proposed to be followed, and the chief 
objects expected to be attained in a new expedition, are pointed 
out in the following extract from the letter of Dr. Carpenter, 
read to the Council on the 24th ult., which was referred to the 
Committee :— 
««The plan which has been marked out between my colleagues 
in last year's work and myself is as follows :— 
“Having reason to hope that the “ Porcupine” may be spared 
towards the end of June, we propose that she should start early 
in July, and proceed in-a 8.W. direction towards the furthest 
point to which our survey was carried last year; carefully 
exploring the bottom in depths of 400 to 800 fathoms, on 
which, as experience has shown us, the most interesting collec- 
tions are to be made; but also obtaining a few casts of the 
Dredge with Temperature-soundings at greater depths, as oppor- 
tunities may occur. 
“<The course should then be nearly due South, in a direction 
of general parallelism with the coast of France, Spain, and 
Portugal, keeping generally within the depths just mentioned, 
but occasionally stretching westwards into yet deeper waters. 
From what has been already done in about 400 fathoms’ water 
off the coast of Portugal, there is no doubt that the ground is 
there exceedingly rich. When approaching the Straits of 
Gibraltar, the survey, both Physical and Zoological, should be 
carried out with great care and minuteness ; in order that the 
important problem as to the currents between the Mediterranean 
and Atlantic Seas, and the relation of the Mediterranean Fauna 
to that of the Atlantic (on which Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys is of 
opinion that the results of our last year’s work throw an entirely 
new light), may be cleared up. 
“«Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys is prepared to undertake the scientific 
charge of this part of the expedition; and if Professor Wyville 
Thomson should not be able to accompany him, it will not be 
difficult to find him a suitable assistant. 
“<The ship would probably reach Gibraltar early in August, 
