4 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



gatherings. There was excellent light in this house, and the microscope could be used 

 satisfactorily in all kinds of weather. Several strong hooks fixed into the roof were 

 most serviceable as holdfasts in the operation of skinning birds. A netting, in which 

 bird-skins were kept till dry, was suspended from the roof. The tow-nets, a gun, a 

 rifle, a water glass, and scoops for surface work were kept in this house ready for use 

 whenever a boat was lowered from the ship to collect surface animals or shoot birds. 

 A deck house such as this, where all the rougher work of the naturalists can be carried 

 on, should be provided in every vessel expressly fitted for researches similar to those 

 carried on in the Challenger. 



Boat Equipment. — The boat equipment consisted of a steam pinnace 39 feet in 

 length, a barge 29 feet in length, two cutters, three whalers, a life gig, and a dingey. Of 



Fig. 1 .—The Steam Pinnace in Sydney Harbour. 



these boats the pinnace, barge, and two whalers were carried inboard, the cutters were 

 hoisted to davits abreast the mizenmast, the life gig to davits over the stern, and one 

 whaler and the dingey to wooden davits in the main chains. In bad weather the two 



