360 Dr. 0. Schmidt on Goccoliths and RhaldoUths. 



deep-sea soundings, the desire was raised in me to learn more 

 accurately the conditions of the bottom of the Adriatic. My 

 frequent dredging-voyages along the Dalmatian coast had 

 hardly made me acquainted with a greater depth than from 40 

 to 50 fathoms. In presence of the surprising results of the 

 investigations of the Atlantic sea-bottom, and their importance 

 equally in zoology and geology, a supplemental examination 

 of the sea near me appeared to be of general interest. But it 

 was perfectly clear that this could only be undertaken with 

 large resources ; and for this purpose circumstances were pecu- 

 liarly favourable. Considering the total deficiency of modern 

 and fully trustworthy charts of the Adriatic Sea, a thorough 

 survey of it could no longer be put off. This great work was 

 confided by the Admiralty to Captain QDsterreicher with a 

 number of officers. A smaller steamer was associated with the 

 principal ship, the ' Triest,' a large and convenient steamer ; 

 and besides its rowing-boats the ' Triest' carried a steam-launch. 

 As in the summer of 1870 it was proposed to lay clown some 

 lines between the Apulian and the Albano-Dalmatian coasts, 

 I applied to Vice-Admiral von Tegetthof and Captain Q^ster- 

 reicher, and received from them the most obliging permission 

 and invitation to pass a few weeks with my friend Professor 

 Gobanz as a guest on board the ' Triest,' and a promise that I 

 should be as far as possible aided in my designs. Equally liberal 

 was the assistance of the Imperial Academy with regard to 

 our equipment. And so my companion and I found ourselves 

 with the Lloyd's steamer, on the morning of the 20th of June, 

 in the roads of Durazzo, where the ' Triest ' was lying at anchor. 

 We were cordially received by the gentlemen of the surveying- 

 expedition, and I look back with pleasure and' gratitude to 

 every hour of my living in their company. 



I had had dredges made upon two models : — one the frame of 

 which was a narrow rectangle ; and several with triangular 

 frames, of which I have previously made use with good results. 

 The only improvement (to which Professor Lov^n had called 

 my attention) was, that of the three bows which bear the ring 

 for the rope, only two are riveted together, whilst the third is 

 united with them by a somewhat thinner piece of rope. In 

 the event of the catching of the dredge, this union will break 

 more easily than the hawser, and the dredge will be more 

 easily freed. I was never in a position to learn this by ex- 

 perience. The triangular di-edge proved perfectly available 

 down to depths of 630 fathoms, the greatest that we attained, 

 when leaden weights of 80 lbs. were attached in the angles. 

 As a tow-line, rope of the thickness of one's thumb was used ; 

 and in the absence of a small steam-engine for drawing it up. 



