On the Composition of some Deep-Sea Deposits 235 



The samples, as received, were in the condition in which 

 they had been collected, having been transferred from the 

 sounding-tube to the bottle without any form of preparation 

 or drying. Some were therefore much wetter than others, and 

 the diversity in their condition in this respect is well shown in 

 the percentage column of Table II. The actual state of the 

 mud when put up in the sample bottle on board depends on 

 so many fortuitous circumstances that no physical importance 

 must be attached to the figures in this Table. In order to bring 

 all the muds, as far as possible, into a similar condition, they 

 were heated in the water-bath until they ceased to lose weight. 

 It was necessary, therefore, to determine their weights, and 

 they have accordingly been tabulated, and will give roughly 

 an idea of the difference between a wet mud and a dry one. 



TABLE II. Preparation of Samples for Analysis, by 

 Drying on the Water-Bath. 



Table II. Preparation of Substance for Analysis. About 

 half of the sample was placed in a tared punvl.mi l>,i>m and 

 1 in tin- watT-l,ath till it was in a lit lurin Inr handling. 

 It was then weighed, and the loss of weight railed water. 



