HIS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA 77 



of the deep sea, and that, if an electric cord were ever 

 laid down upon the telegraphic plateau, there it would 

 remain without anything to chafe or wear it except 

 alone the tooth of time. 



Accordingly, when in February, 1854 the projectors 

 of the Atlantic Telegraph inquired of Maury as to the 

 practicability of submerging the cable, he was able to 

 reply as follows: ''From Newfoundland to Ireland the 

 distance between the nearest points is about sixteen 

 hundred miles, and the bottom of the sea between the 

 two places is a plateau, which seems to have been placed 

 there especially for the purpose of holding the wires of a 

 submarine telegraph and of keeping them out of harm's 

 way. It is neither too deep nor too shallow; yet it is 

 so deep that the wires, being once landed, will remain 

 forever beyond the reach of vessels' anchors, icebergs, 

 and drift of any kind, and so shallow that the wires may 

 be readily lodged upon the bottom. The depth of this 

 plateau is quite regular, gradually increasing from the 

 shores of Newfoundland to the depth of from fifteen 

 hundred to two thousand fathoms as you approach the 

 other side. Whether it be better to lead the wires from 

 Newfoundland or Labrador is not now the question; 

 nor do I pretend to consider the question as to the possi- 

 bility of finding a time calm enough, the sea smooth 

 enough, a wire long enough, and a ship big enough to 

 carry and lay a coil of^ wire 1600 miles in length. I 

 simply address myself at this time to the question in so 

 far as the bottom of the sea is concerned ; and as for that, 

 the greatest practical difficulty will, I apprehend, be 

 found after reaching soundings at either end of the line, 

 and not in the deep-sea. A wire laid across from either 

 of the above-mentioned places on this side would pass 



