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The results of such a reconnaissance of the ocean should give the general 

 direction for future systematic study of the same. 



The present writers were intrusted by the Central Bureau of the International Study 

 of the Sea with the task of drawing up a Memorandum as to the ways and means 

 by which an international reconnaissance of the Atlantic Ocean could be organised 

 in the near future. We took advantage of the opportunity presented by our stay 

 in England to confer with the leading oceanographers resident there, Dr. H. Mill, 

 Commander Campbell Hepworth and Sir John Murray. Later on, we had the oppor- 

 tunity of discussing certain of the principal points of the programme with the 

 leader of the »Michael Sars« expedition. The experiences of Dr. Hjort, partly in 

 the Norwegian Sea, and partly on the American side of the ocean, appeared to us to be 

 of such importance, that we requested him to lay these before the assembly himself 

 at the next Council Meeting. We were moreover of the opinion that it would greatly 

 further the deliberations of the Council, if Prof. Dr. G. Schott, one of the greatest expert 

 on the Atlantic among actively working oceanographers, were to give his views in 

 person on the occasion in question. At our suggestion, the Bureau has invited 

 the »Deutsche Seewarte« to be represented at the Council Meeting in Sep- 

 tember, and the »Deutsche Seewarte« has delegated Dr. Schott for the pur- 

 pose. As the International Study of the Sea includes also among its own members, 

 distinguished Atlantic investigators and experts, it would seem that adequate mea- 

 sures have been taken to place at the disposal of the Council such an amount of 

 expert knowledge and experience in fishery-biological and hydrographical respects, 

 as is scarcely to be found elsewhere at the present time. 



It remains to cast a glance at the prospects of carrying out the great task, and 

 the means. At our conferences with the authorities above mentioned, we received 

 the impression that the matter could not be further advanced by ordinary discussions 

 and resolutions on the part of learned societies. All that can be attained in this way 

 has already been attained, by means of the recommendations, given unanimously, 

 in optima forma, at the two Geographical Congresses in Geneva and Rome, and the 

 Zoological Congi-ess in Monaco in 1904. The best and only way was now to 

 seize the earliest favourable opportunity of commencing the investigations. As soon 

 as such opportunity should arise, application should be made to the Governments 

 in order to obtain the necessary ships and pecuniary means for the first general 

 Atlantic quarterly cruise. The results of this would without doubt appear of such 

 importance and moment, that a continuation would follow without difficulty. By 

 the aid of commercial steamers it would not he possible to succeed; at any rate 

 not with these alone. The first investigations would probably have to be made from 

 ships in the Naval service. This applies, however, only to the Transatlantic 

 line of hydrographical investigation. The investigation of the coastal seas must be 

 carried out from real investigation steamers, specially fitted for fishery-biological 

 work, The programme must therefoi'ç be drawn up under two heads; viz: 



