102 DEEP-SEA SOUNDING. 



and as this cast was only 85 miles west of one of 2509 

 fathoms taken by the Enterprise on her way out in 

 1883, and about 100 miles S.W. of another cast of 2288 

 fathoms, we could properly consider the line between 

 Montevideo and Cape Town, or across the South 

 Atlantic, completed. On the 22d, at 2 p.m., we 

 sounded in 2539 fathoms, lat. 28° 52' S., long. 28° 1 1' W.; 

 brown mud and shells. While taking this cast a re- 

 markably strong undercurrent was found setting to the 

 westward. It was very decided in character and I 

 deeply regretted that there were no deep-sea thermom- 

 eters on board with which to .determine its temperature. 

 A course was now shaped to cut our former line half-way 

 between two of the soundings therein. 



On the 23d, at 10 a.m., we crossed the track of the 

 Enterprise on her outward voyage, thus completing the 

 circumnavigation of the globe. Sail was immediately 

 shortened and furled, and a cast taken in 2851 fathoms, 

 lat. 27° 54' S., long. 27° 32' W.; dark brown mud — the 

 position being just midway between former casts of 

 3147 fathoms, lat. 26° 56' S., long. 27° 44' 40" W., and 

 2288 fathoms, lat. 28° 49' 47" S., long. 27° 31' 2^" W., 

 and about 60 miles from each. The depth agreed ex- 

 cellently well with what we might expect. The same 

 strong westerly undercurrent previously mentioned 

 was again noticed. We swung ship for compass devia- 

 tions in the afternoon about 200 miles north of where 

 we swung on the outward voyage. The wind becoming 

 very light, at sundown the vessel was put under steam. 



