24 DEEP-SEA SOUNDING. 



the wire came in contact with a fish, of which small bits 

 of the skin and flesh were found on the upper end of 

 one of the splices. 



On the 24th the ship was swung with starboard 

 helm, beginning shortly after sunrise. At 9 a.m. a 

 cast was taken in 2343 fathoms, lat. 32° 24' S., long. 1° 

 32' 52" W., white sand and shells; and at 6 p.m. another 

 in 1255 fathoms, lat. 32° 30' S., long. 0° 27' 46'' W. ; 

 white sand. The depth being so much less than that 

 found in the morning, still another cast was taken 

 at II P.M. in 979 fathoms, lat. 32'^ 2)3' 20" S., long. 

 0° 00' 20" East ; white sand. We were evidently cross- 

 ing another submarine ridge ; hence about four hours 

 later, at 4.15 a.m. on the 25th, we sounded in 2492 

 fathoms, lat. 32° 41' 54" S., long. 0° 41' 04" E. ; light 

 brown ooze. 



As ranges of mountains are sometimes found on land 

 in close proximity to each other and running in nearly 

 parallel lines, I thought it possible there might be a 

 second submarine range near the one over which we 

 had just passed, and gave orders to sound again at 1.30 

 P.M. The result was startling. A depth of only 731 

 fathoms was found, or two statute miles less than the 

 last cast ! Lat. 32° 48' 2^" S., long. 1° 47' 34'' E., the 

 character of the bottom being white coral, sand, and 

 shells. 



Such a remarkable change in depth gave us reason 

 to think that breakers might exist somewhere in this 

 part of the South Atlantic after all, and a bright look- 



