H.M.C.S. " Ehkoli," a Canadian Oceanographic Rksearch Ship 



PLANS FOR AN OCEANOGRAPHICAL EXPEDITION IN THE 

 SOUTH PACIFIC, 1950-1952 



By Anton F. Bruun, Zoological Museum, Copenhagen 



Summary of Discussion 



Professor Yonge inquired whether it was hoped to bring back any 

 deep-water material alive. Dr. Bruun replied that cool acquariums 

 were to be installed, but that it was in general hopeless to try to secure 

 pelagic material in an undamaged living state, since the nets filled with 

 siphonophores and other coelenterates which killed the delicate plank- 

 tonic animals. It was, however, hoped to keep benthal invertebrates 

 alive. The question of alcohol and formalin preservative supplies was 

 going to be difficult, but freezing methods has been suggested for 

 preservation. 



In answer to Dr. Shepherd's (juestion whether it was proposed to 

 take bottom cores at great depths, Dr. Bruun announced the full co- 

 operation of Dr. Pettersson, who had made a piston available. It was 

 stated further that the three Scandinavian nations would in all probability 

 agree to maintain a joint international research vessel. 



Dr. Hubbs wished to know whether it was proposed to concentrate 

 entirely on bottom fauna or whether also very deep bathypelagic hauls 

 were projected. It was stated that on this expedition onh' 10 per cent, 

 of the hauls were to be taken at lesser depths than 1,000 metres of cable. 

 The remaining 90 per cent, were to be bottom hauls and bathypelagic at 

 over 1,000 metres. The type of net proposed was to be a three-boarded 

 otter trawl. As to the problem of getting it down to the required depths, 

 it was not thought that this would cause great dificultw No trouble 



186. 



