EXPLORATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 
STEAMER “BACHE” IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC, JANUARY-MARCH, 
1914, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF 
FISHERIES.—OCEANOGRAPHY. 
By Henry B. BicEetow. 
INTRODUCTION. 
In connection with the oceanographic and fishery investigations 
between the Grand Banks and Cape Hatteras which have been 
prosecuted by the Bureau of Fisheries for a number of years (Bige- 
low, 1914a-1915), there developed an appreciation of the importance 
of studying the conditions between the southern Atlantic coast and 
the Bermudas, Bahamas, and Cuba. As the Bureau of Fisheries 
had no vessel on the Atlantic coast which was suitable for this off- 
shore work, a request for assistance and cooperation was preferred to 
the Coast and Geodetic Survey, which also was interested in certain 
phases of the investigation, particularly the physical hydrography. 
The Superintendent of the Survey promptly acquiesced in the 
suggestion and under an arrangement for an equitable division of 
expenses, the Coast and Geodetic Survey steamer Bache, under the 
command of Capt. C.C. Yates, was assigned to the duty. The in- 
vestigations were under the direction of the Bureau of Fisheries, W. W. 
Welsh, assistant in that Bureau, having immediate charge. The 
cruise lasted from January 20, 1914, to March 23 of the same year. 
The course of the Bache (see chart) led from Chesapeake Bay to the 
oceanic basin in longitude 73° 15’, thence south to latitude 32° 30’, 
and from that point to Bermuda. Sailing from Bermuda on Feb- 
ruary 17, she ran 200 miles southwest, to latitude 29° 30’, then west 
to a point 140 miles north of the Bahamas, and south to Nassau. 
Three sections were then run across the Straits of Florida, viz, Key 
West to Habana, Founey Rocks (Cape Florida) to Gun Cay, and 
Jupiter Inlet to the northern end of the Little Bahama Bank (Mar. 
13-21); and, finally, a line thence to connect with the Bermuda- 
Bahama line. Serial oceanographic observations were taken at 38 
stations and surface temperatures and water samples at 19 addi- 
tional stations. The temperatures® were taken with reversing ther- 
mometers of the latest type, with auxiliary thermometers to give the 
e Temperatures are centigrade. 
86497°—17-—33 6 
