Narrativ]-: of Bahama Expedition. 141 



was remarkabl}' distinct from that of either of tlie others. 

 The trough of the Gulf Stream seems to be a most effective 

 barrier, fully as potent as a range of mountains on the land, 

 while a difference of a few score fathoms in depth zoologically 

 divides the Pourtales Plateau from the reef region as effect- 

 iv'ely as thousands of miles difference in latitude does the 

 terrestrial forms. 



Taking it all in all, this was the most profitable part of our 

 cruise, both from a scientific and an educational standpoint, 

 although it was characterized by almost continuous work and 

 considerable discomfort from the heat, as w^ell as a certain de- 

 gree of danger. The latter element came in. as usual, in a 

 manner-and at a time entirely unexpected. 



On Monday, June 19th, just when we w^ere rejoicing over 

 the first splendid haul from below^ the one-hundred-fathom 

 line, and most of the party were eagerly picking the harvest 

 from the tangles, a serious accident happened. The large 

 oyster-dredge had been lowered and was dragging nicely on 

 the bottom, when it suddenly caught firmly on some object, 

 and with scarcely a moment's warning the tremendous pres- 

 sure on the iron rope, caused probably more by the current of 

 the Gulf Stream than the passage of the vessel through the 

 water, created havoc unparalleled during the entire cruise. 

 The mate and Mr. Larrabee, who were watching the dredge 

 rope, were seated on the windward bulwarks just forward of 

 a break in the rail. A number of others were on the oppo- 

 site side of the vessel picking over the tangles after the pre- 

 ceding haul. The first thing to give way was the two-and 

 three-fourths-inch Italian hemp rope which gmed the dredg- 

 ing spar in position while dredging, thus bringing a longitudinal 

 strain on the dredging spar which swung aft; next the rope 

 securing the throat of the spar to the foremast parted like so- 

 much yarn; then the rope which secured the heavy iron pul- 

 ley-block to the deck just aft of the galley broke at both ends. 

 The spar fell to the deck w'ith a crash, breaking in two as it 

 struck, and the pulley fell, barely missing the head of a young 

 woman working over the tangles. The iron rope then came 



