134 PERCY SLADEN TRUST EXPEDITION. 
330 fathoms, passing into deeper water. Two subsequent hauls failed to reach the 
bottom. We were drifting in each case to the west-north-west, and we heavily weighted 
our trawls. Each went down almost perpendicularly to about 200 fathoms, but then 
commenced to draw out to the east or east by north, the wire at 300 fathoms making an 
angle of about 45° with the surface. We were in the first haul unable to steam, as the © 
trawl at once left the bottom; and in the others (the more northern), in which the 
dredges did not reach the ground, the angle with the surface was still less. While 
sounding in the same situations, as well as to the north more immediately between the 
two banks, there were also indications of some change in current between 150 and 
250 fathoms. Trawls with long bags present a considerable amount of surface to the 
water, and their behaviour in these hauls is only, we consider, consistent with the existence 
of a surface-current to the west down to about 150 fathoms, and a reversed current to 
the east from 200 fathoms to the bottom. Of course, it is largely a matter of relation 
of ship to wire; and it is only fair to add that we are not entirely supported in our view 
of the directions of the currents by Capt. Somerville and the officers of the Sealark, 
though all at the time admitted the existence of peculiar current-phenomena. There is, 
of course, the surface-current as moving the ship to be taken into account, and also the 
fact that all ships sail to some degree under bare poles—the Sealark more particularly 
so, as she presents a large surface of hull and masts to the wind. We were, of course, 
out of sight of land, and the ship for accurate results under such circumstances should 
be a fixed body, #.e. at anchor, or at least capable of accurately fixing her position every 
few minutes. Without such observations it may be impossible to convince others of the 
existence of such deep currents, though the observer may feel absolutely certain of their 
presence. We ourselves think that relatively deep currents prevail to a far greater 
extent, both in the open sea and in narrow waters, than is usually allowed, and think 
that our own observations, with those of Comm. Tydeman of the ‘Siboga’* and 
Mr. J. Y. Buchanan ¢ (to mention only two observers in coral-seas), together with 
general considerations relating to topographical and physiological questions, give a 
prima facie case for full investigation. Between the northern Saya de Malha Banks 
the current seemed reversed below 200 fathoms, perhaps only a temporary phenomenon ; 
but in their nature both of the bottom-samples down to 636 fathoms in the middle of 
the passage and of animals in the dredgings are only consistent with the existence of 
currents sweeping the bottom. 
The following night we skirted along the north bank of Saya de Malha, stopping in 
the morning for a dredging near its northern end. Here, again, we were affected 
by currents, though not to the same degree. The dredging started in 450 fathoms 
outwards, and the general facies of the animals was the same as those obtained between 
the banks. They were all either strong-swimming forms, such as fish and crustaceans, 
or starfishes which can cling well, or attached gorgonians. The only sponges were 
Hexactinellids, one branching form having the general appearance of an Oculina-coral, 
having associated with it little Palythoid actinians instead of coral-polyps. Corals were 
* Hydrographic Results, ‘Siboga’ Reports, pp. 5-G & 85-86. 
+ Sixth Internat. Geogr. Congress, p. 25 (1895). 
