XVI CHALLENGER 



Captain Nares,* a 'devilish good fellow^', as Sub-Lieutenant 

 Swire described him in the jargon of the day, was assisted by a 

 fine team of deck officers and engineers, with Navigating Lieuten- 

 ant Tizard, one of the cleverest surveyors in the service, in charge 

 of the surveying work and of the fixing of the positions of the 

 many sounding and oceanographic stations which were to be 

 occupied by the ship. The scientists under Wyville Thomson 

 numbered three naturalists, Murray, Moseley and Willemoes von 

 Suhm ; Wild, who was secretary to Thomson, and was also a most 

 capable artist, and Buchanan the chemist. Dr. Suhm died at sea 

 of erysipelas during the latter part of the voyage. 



The objects of the expedition were clearly set out in the 

 instructions issued to Captain Nares and Dr. Thomson. These 

 were fourfold : 



1 . To investigate the physical conditions of the deep sea in the 

 great ocean basins (as far as the neighbourhood of the great 

 southern ice-barrier), in regard to depth, temperature, circula- 

 tion, specific gravity and penetration of light. 



2 . To determine the chemical composition of the sea water at 

 various depths from the surface to the bottom, the organic matter 

 in solution and the particles in suspension. 



3 . To ascertain the physical and chemical character of deep-sea 

 deposits and the sources of these deposits. 



4. To investigate the distribution of organic life at different 

 depths and on the deep-sea floor. 



At first the weather was furiously against such work and on that 

 first Christmas Day at sea there were many of the scientists, and 

 sailors too, who wished, as the ship wallowed and creaked in the 

 heavy seas, that they were enjoying their Christmas dinner in 

 the familiar surroundings of the homes they would not see again 

 for nearly four years. Nor were the first attempts at dredging 

 successful even when the weather did moderate, for all were un- 

 accustomed to this novel and difficult technique for hauling 

 quantities of life from regions completely unknown to Man. Three 



* On 1 8th January, 1957, Vice-Admiral J. D. Nares died in harness as 

 Director of the International Hydrographic Bureau at Monaco. He was born 

 in 1877, about two years after Captain Nares' return from the Challenger voyage, 

 and, like his father, spent his life in the Naval Hydrographic Service. 



