134 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [CHAP. in. 



"The Committee appointed by the Council on the 21st of 

 January, to consider the measures advisable for the further pro- 

 secution of Researches into the Physical and Biological Condi- 

 tions of the Deep Sea in the neighbourhood of the British Coast, 

 beg leave to Report as follows : 



" The results obtained by the Dredgings and Temperature- 

 Soundings carried on during the brief Cruise of H.M.S. ' Light- 

 ning' in August and September, 1868, taken in connection with 

 those of the Dredgings recently prosecuted under the direction 

 of the Governments of Sweden and of the United States, and 

 with the remarkable Temperature-Soundings of Captain Short- 

 land in the Arabian Gulf, have conclusively shown 



" 1. That the Ocean-bottom, at depths of 500 fathoms or more, 

 presents a vast field for research, of which the systematic 

 exploration can scarcely fail to yield results of the highest 

 interest and importance, in regard alike to Physical, Biological, 

 and Geological Science. 



"2. That the prosecution of such a systematic exploration is: 

 altogether beyond the reach of private enterprise, requiring 

 means and appliances which can only be furnished by Govern-;' 

 nient. 



" It may be hoped that Her Majesty's Government may be: 

 induced at some future time to consider this work as one of the 

 special duties of the British Navy; which possesses, in the* 

 world-wide distribution of its Ships, far greater opportunities for 

 such researches than the Navy of any other country. 



"At present, however, the Committee consider it desirable that 

 the Royal Society should represent to Her Majesty's Government 

 the importance of at once following up the suggestions appended 

 to Dr. Carpenter's 'Preliminary Report' of the Cruise of the 

 ' Lightning,' by instituting, during the coming season, a detailed 

 survey of the deeper part of the Ocean-bottom between the 

 North of Scotland and the Fseroe Islands, and by extending that 

 survey in both a N.E. and a S.W. direction, so as thoroughly to 

 investigate the Physical and the Biological conditions of the two 

 Submarine Provinces included in that area, which are character- 

 ized by a strongly marked contrast in Climate, with a correspond- 



