DEPTHS. I9 



the vessel was striking the ground. This lasted about one minute, and afterwards everything was 

 as quiet as before. I am led to believe that it has been a volcanic eruption at the bottom, but it is 

 rather strange that it could be felt with such violence on the surface of the sea, as the depth on 

 the spot was between 15 and 1600 fathoms. 



Londonderry in November 1895. P % Q % Pedcrsen, 



master of the bark Duisburg. Christiania.» 



As will be seen, this earthquake took place several degrees more southerly than the foregoing 

 one, but in the same longitude. 



So much is certain, however, that the aforesaid 2 soundings by English vessels proved the 

 presence of a submarine plateau; as the zoologists of the expedition were of opinion that it might be 

 of special interest to examine animal life 011 this spot, I set the course for it From the soundings, 

 which we commenced at once, it was clear, however, that we were on a very narrow ridge, pointing 

 in the direction of the supposed submarine plateau. The sounding was continued as far as the 

 60 th degree of latitude north, constantly with the same result, and by this was proved that the plateau 

 in question was only the continuation of this ridge. It proceeds from Cape Reykjances , the south- 

 western point of the peninsula, on which is seen everywhere the effect of the subterranean fire; hot 

 springs, solfataras and mud-volcanos are found everywhere, and it is probably in case of these valves 

 not being sufficient, that such catastrophes take place, of which we have got an example by the one 

 that caused so much damage to Iceland in 1896. 



The ridge called Reykjanas-Ryg must be of volcanic origin, and it will be seen by the afore- 

 said reports from ships, that the volcanic forces also here are in constant activity. The ridge, seen 

 from a geological point of view, is of later origin; it has formed itself after the glacial period; this 

 inference may be drawn from the fact, that the trawl — at all the trawlings made on the said ridge — 

 did not meet with a single stone; not one mask in the trawl was broken, while, on the other hand, 

 both to the eastward and westward of the ridge, the bottom was strown with stones, by which the 

 trawl was torn asunder. The proof of the existence of this ridge will still more corroborate the con- 

 ception that Busse Island has existed and disappeared by volcanic eruptions. 1 ) 



The soundings taken in the Denmark-Strait and the Davis-Strait have not altered anything 

 in our knowledge of the depths in these seas. 



Soundings were taken as soon as the vessel was inside the 100 fathom curve, as well at 

 Greenland as at Iceland. The vessel was supplied with 2 sounding-machines {William Thomson's) 

 with which — in case of the depth not being too large — soundings may be taken, even if the vessel 

 be going at the rate of 12 — 14 knots. With a speed of 8 knots, the normal speed for the Ingolf, 

 soundings could be taken with facility in 120 fathoms of water. Instead of Thomson's tubes the 

 Rung Bathometer was used. 



In the Davis-Strait valuable soundings were taken to determine the position of the banks 

 lying along the westcoast, of which it is of great importance to have a correct knowledge when 

 making the land. 



') In the 1st volume page 164—202 of the account of the Danish Arctic Expeditions in 1605—1620, published by the 

 Hakluyt Society in 1897, is given a detailed information of the question Busse Island. 



3* 



