ASSUME COMMAND OF THE ENTERPRISE. 23 



a few miles, viz., from hard black mud to white ooze 

 mixed with shells. 



Being now near the position of" Grant's Breakers," 

 as shown on the chart, we continued under steam, and 

 at 1.30 P.M. sounded directly over the spot, in lat. 31° 

 l"]' 29" S., long. 11° 29' 22'' W. Found a depth of 

 19 19 fathoms, hard bottom — again a decided change in 

 character, although comparatively near the position of 

 the last cast. We had undoubtedly crossed a submarine 

 ridge during the last twenty-four hours. 



On the 2ist, at 8.15 a.m., sounded in 2050 fathoms, 

 lat. 31° 57' 2q1' S., long. 9° 43' 26" VV., finding hard bot- 

 tom. 



On the 22d, at 7.30 a.m., sounded in 2314 fathoms, 

 lat. 32° 03' 48'' S., long, f 09' 22" W., hard bottom ; 

 and at 6 p.m., in 2308 fathoms, lat. 32° 11' 31'' S., long. 

 6° 03' 58'' W., this time finding white ooze mixed with 

 sand and shells — again a most noticeable change in the 

 character of the bottom. 



The specimen-cup used in this cast was a modifi- 

 cation of Belknap No. 2, designed by Chief Engineer 

 McEwan. 



On the 23d, at 7.30 a.m., we sounded in 2008 fath- 

 oms, lat. 32° 19' S., long. 4° 23' 34" W., hard white 

 sand, and in the afternoon began to swing ship, but 

 before the observations could be completed masses of 

 clouds formed which obscured the sun. At 6.30 p.m. 

 we again sounded in 2353 fathoms, lat. 32° 26' S., long. 

 3° 23' 32" W. ; white sand and shells. While reeling in» 



