CHAP, v.] DEEP-SEA SOUNDING. 209 



siderable expense. We must still, therefore, depend 

 mainly upon some form of sounding apparatus for 

 the gradual accumulation of observations which will 

 give us in time a consistent idea of the nature of 

 the bottom of the sea throughout. A simple instru- 

 ment which will bring up a surface sample of a 

 pound or so, from a depth of 2,000 fathoms, with- 

 out much trouble and with some certainty, is still a 

 desideratum. 



In the year 1818, Sir John Ross, in command of 

 H.M.S. ' Isabella,' on a voyage of discovery for the 

 purpose of exploring Baffin's Bay, invented a machine 

 " for taking up soundings from the bottom of any 

 fathomable depth," which he called a ' deep-sea 

 clamm.' A large pair of forceps were kept asunder 

 by a bolt, and the instrument was so contrived that 

 on the bolt striking the ground, a heavy iron weight 

 slipped down a spindle and closed the forceps, which 

 retained within them a considerable quantity of the 

 1 bottom, whether sand, mud, or small stones. 1 On the 

 ' 1st of September, 1818, Sir John Ross sounded in 

 1,000 fathoms, lat. 73 37' N., long. 75 25' W. The 

 soundings consisted of " soft mud, in which there 

 were worms, and, entangled on the sounding-line, at 

 the depth of 800 fathoms, was found a beautiful Caput 

 Hedusce" On the 6th of September Sir John Ross 

 sounded in 1,050 fathoms, lat. 72 23' N,, long. 



i 73 075' W., and the clamms brought up 61bs. of very 



. 



1 A Voyage of Discovery made under the Orders of the Admiralty 

 in His Majesty's Ships ' Isabella ' and ' Alexander,' for the purpose of 

 i exploring Baffin's Bay, and inquiring into the Possibility of a North- 

 west Passage. By John Eoss, K.S., Captain Koyal Navy. London : 

 ilSll); p. 178. 



P 



