THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAX. 



313 



of the sea at the places named (§ 567) was not as great as reports 

 made it. These researches were interesting ; the problem in hand 

 was important, and it deserved every effort that ingenuity could 

 suggest for reducing it to a satisfactory solution. 



573. As yet, no specimens of the bottom had been brought up. 

 Brooke's sounding The liuc was too Small, the shot was too heavy, 

 apparatus. ^^^^ ^^ could uot bc Weighed ; and if we could reach 



the bottom, why should we not know its character ? In this state 

 of the case. Passed Midshipman J. M. Brooke, United States Navy, 

 who, at the time, was associated with me on duty at the Observa- 

 tory, proposed a contrivance by which the shot, on striking the 

 bottom, would detach itself from the line, and send up a speci- 

 men of the bottom. This beautiful contrivance, called Brooke's 

 Deep-sea Sounding Apparatus, is represented below. A is a 

 cannon ball, having a hole through it for the rod B. Figure 1 

 represents the rod, B, and the slings, D D, with the shot slung, 

 ready for sounding. Figure 2 represents the apparatus in the 



Fis?. 1. 



