132 



THE AQUAEIUM, OCTOBER, 1894. 



on another man had gotten the appa- 

 ratus in order to take '^ soundings." 

 This apparatus is on the opposite side 

 of the vessel, where it is out of the way 

 of the trawl. It is an apparatus made 

 of bronze and steel. From a bronze 

 wheel runs a steel wire on which hangs 

 a heavy bronze-covered cylindrical 

 weight with a hollow bottom. (See 

 illustration.) This bottom is partly 

 filled with soft tallow. Immediately 

 over this weight, also fastened to the 

 steel wire, hangs a peculiarly shaped 

 thermometer, which is securely covered 

 with a folding mantle. Above this 

 thermometer, secured by a twin hook, 

 hangs a little ball. When this appa- 

 ratus is used the weight strikes the 

 bottom with a shock which opens the 

 mantle of the thermometer. After a 

 certain lapse of time the little ball is 

 loosened, slides down the wire and 

 closes the mantle again. The temjoer- 

 ature at the bottom is thus registered 

 and the sounder is raised. 



According to the captain's calcula- 

 tion we had arrived over our grounds, 

 the engines were stopped aiid the 

 sounder was "let go." At this order 

 the weight went down with great rap- 

 idity, and when it had struck the bot- 

 tom the apparatus above registered a 

 depth of thirteen fathoms (78 feet). 

 The quartermaster called " time "from 

 the wheel house, and the sounder was 

 raised. Upon examination of its bot- 

 tom, small pebbles, about the^size of 

 beans, were found adhering to the 

 tallow. This proved that we were on the 

 desired bank. 



Now the quartermaster stated from 

 the wheel house the correct time of day, 

 the temperature of the atmosphere and 

 water surface, condition of the sky, di- 

 rection of the wind, etc., which was 

 recorded by another officer. The trawl 



which had been raised overboard was 

 still suspended from the beam, about 

 ten feet away from the vessel ; now the 

 order was given to lower the same. The 

 excellent discipline that prevailed on 

 board was here manifested. Every- 

 thing went with the regularity and 

 promptness as if it was an artillery 

 drill ; everyone knew his place and his 

 particular duty ; a respectful silence 

 prevailed, just as if something of great 

 importance was to be done. We must 

 confess that it touched certain chords 

 in the heart of the old soldier, and re- 

 minded us of by-gone days. 



It was just 2 P.M. when the net touch- 

 ed the water. The engine was still stop- 

 ped, and the steamer drifting with the 

 wind ; this drifting was the only power 

 employed to drag the trawl along the 

 bottom of the ocean. After twelve 

 minutes the order came to raise the 

 trawl. This was done with great rap- 

 idity by means of the little engine next 

 to the mast. (See illustration.) The 

 trawl had dredged over about two hun- 

 dred and fifty feet of bottom during 

 this time. 



Now the place of interest was on the 

 deck beloAv. We all went quickly down 

 stairs to see the trawl hauled aboard. 

 It was yet suspended in midair, the 

 bottom of it being just before the port, 

 when we arrived. This the men grabbed 

 and pulled to the deck. Here the iron 

 weight was quickly untied, the net 

 lifted, and in a second later all it con- 

 tained lie before our wondering eyes on 

 deck, forming a little pile of gravel, 

 sea shells, etc., from among which the 

 living creatures soon made their appear- 

 ance. We picked them up, the Com- 

 missioner, Dr. Patten, and all the vis- 

 itors, as far as the sea-sickness did not 

 prevent them, taking a hand in it, each 

 one selecting to his particular fancy 



