NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 9 



diameter, and with mouths of about If inches. The bottles are manufactured by- 

 machinery as pomatum bottles, and are sold very cheaply by the gross. They are 

 very strong, survive much hard usage, and were in constant use throughout the 

 voyage. They were found, on account of their strength, especially useful for collecting 

 expeditions on land. Eectangular leather cases, with leather lids secured by a strap 

 and buckle, and divided inside into compartments for six of these bottles placed 

 upright, and with long straps for suspending them from the shoulders, are most useful 

 appliances for the collector on shore, and it is especially convenient that such cases should 

 be made to contain a kind of bottle the supply of which is practically unlimited. The 

 pomatum bottles were obtained from Messrs. James Powell & Sons of Whitefriars. 



A large store of sheet zinc and solder w T as found indispensable, as the majority of the 

 larger animals were preserved in zinc cases made on board. 



Common fish globes are especially useful on board ship for containing living animals 

 in water, washing the contents of surface nets into, and all similar purposes. Their shape 

 is better adapted than any other to prevent the splashing over of the contents. They 

 should be of various sizes, and racks should be provided for them to fit into. 



A slate and plate-glass aquarium, closed by slate above, and so arranged that, in 

 order to prevent constant splashing and motion of the contents, it should always 

 be completely full and yet permit of a frequent change in the w T ater being effected, was 

 set up on the main deck, but proved a complete failure. The reason of the failure 

 was, that owing both to its own weight and that of the contained water, it was found 

 impossible to keep its joints water-tight. The motion of the ship, and the working 

 of the deck to which it was secured, caused the slate and glass to play against one 

 another at the joints, and no application of bolts and screws seemed able to prevent 

 this action. 



In the hope that Cetacea might be secured during the voyage, a stock of harpoons 

 and a harpoon gun and its gear formed part of the equipment, but not a single Porpoise 

 or Whale was obtained. Porpoises and Dolphins frequently accompanied the ship in 

 various parts of the world, and it was most disappointing that not a single specimen could 

 be secured. The harpoon gun was a large one, fit for use only for full-sized Whales, from 

 a specially built whale boat by a trained crew, but as the Challenger did not carry such 

 a whale boat nor a crew acquainted with whaling operations, and as there was no one on 

 board specially expert in the use of the harpoon from the bows of the vessel, nothing 

 was obtained by its use. It is most important that the smaller Cetacea met with 

 during scientific voyages should be secured, whenever practicable. What is required 

 is a gun to be fired from the shoulder, and to carry a small harpoon suitable for catching 

 the smaller Dolphins or Porpoises, which might be used from the ship's bows. Such a 

 weapon is now used with success by the U.S. Fish Commission. 



Of the fishing-nets used by the Expedition, exclusive of those employed for dredging 



(narr. en am., exp. — vol. i. — 1884.) 2 



