lOO DEEP-SEA SOUNDING. 



another cast was taken in 2334 fathoms, lat. 31° 35' S.,. 

 long. 39° 08' W., in a bottom of brown mud. 



On the i8th, in the morning, sounded in 1949 

 fathoms, lat. 31° 29' S., long. 38° 05' W. Character of 

 bottom, sand — a great change in depth and character of 

 specimen. Took another cast in the afternoon in 1469 

 fathoms, lat. 31° 22' S., long. 36° 39' W., the cup bring- 

 ing up a specimen of yellow and white sand and shells. 

 Still shoaling with sandy bottom. 



On the 19th, at 5 a.m., sounded in 547 fathoms, lat. 

 31° 13' S., long. 35° 42' W., the character of bottom 

 beingthe same as before, viz., yellow and white sand and 

 shells. The small depth revealed by this cast was a gen- 

 uine surprise, as we had no particular reason to expect a 

 bank in this neighborhood, its position being about 600 

 miles S.E. |S. true from Cape Frio. We now took 

 casts for some time at distances of five miles, finding 

 depths of 467, 471, 444, 481, 400, and 847 fathoms, 

 the latter cast being taken at noon in lat. 31° 07' S., 

 long. 35° 03' W. As this depth was so much greater 

 than the previous one, I judged we had passed over the 

 shoalest part of the bank; and wishing to give the crew 

 time for target-practice with small arms, we sailed slowly 

 along with a light breeze and did not sopnd again until 

 3.30 P.M., when a cast was taken in 1095 fathoms. This 

 increased depth strengthened my belief that the shoalest 

 part of the bank had been crossed ; but thinking it well 

 to take one more cast before dark, I gave directions to 

 sound at sundown, when a depth of only 378 fathoms 



