GOO SCATTEEED EOCKS, SHOALS, AND VIGIAS. 



colour, and soundings were obtained in 92 and 81 fathoms, and at 13 

 miles farther to E.N.E. 100 fathoms, fine sand and oaze. I am inclined 

 to think that a bank of some considerable extent exists in this locality, as 

 the water for many hours previous to sounding was of the same peculiar 

 tint, indicating soundings, and this appearance continued to the E.N.E. 

 until the night of the 29th instant. This morning we regained blue 

 water, and with reference to notices on the chart of 100 fathoms water 

 (Sainthill, 1851), it strikes me as probable that this bank extends from 

 long. 42° W. to 35° W., and from lat. 42° to 45° N." 



This would appear to be quite decisive, yet the following extracts from 

 the report of Commander W. Chimmo, E.N., who examined the vicinity, 

 in H.M.S. Gannet, in July, 1868, will show that its true position has not 

 ■ yet been found: — "We now sailed East for the spot where Lieut. Sainthill 

 obtained 100 fathoms, on sharp rocky bottom. At 2 p.m., on July 12th, 

 we reached this position, and with a heavy weight 4,300 fathoms of line 

 ran out, and no bottom ! (This surely must be an error.) 



" It was somewhat remarkable that about this place, within a radius of 

 some few miles, many indications of shoal water had been from time to 

 time seen and reported, one having as little as 35 fathoms on it. To one 

 of these, called Milne Bank, with only 80 fathoms on it, found by 

 H.M.S. Nile, in 1864, we were now steering. At 4 p.m., on July 15th, 

 we were on the 80 fathoms. The rod and weight of 230 lbs. let go, and 

 2,280 fathoms ran out. There was no bank there. The rod brought up 

 " oaze," abounding in animal, vegetable, and mineral ! 



" In September, another cast of the lead, on the position of the Saint- 

 hill volcano, quite disproved the existence of this vigia within a radius of 

 many miles. 



" Approaching Milne Bank for the second time, on September 3rd, in 

 lat. 43° 40° N., long. 38° 50' W., the lead was again let go, and 2,700 

 fathoms obtained, the rod bringing up a small particle of Foraminifera 

 Near the supposed position of this bank we sounded at short distances 

 for some days with more than 1,000 fathoms of line ; but in no case was 

 there any indication of it. The temperature here obtained, with new 

 and delicate thermometers, at 2,000 fathoms was 42° — rather a higher 

 temperature than expected. The air was 68° ; the sea-surface 69° ; while 

 at 100 fathoms it had fallen 10°, and at 400 fathoms 20° 1 At 1,000 fathoms 

 it was 43°, after which it fell but 1° in 1,000 fathoms * 



LAUEA ETHEL BANK, lat. 46° 55' N., long. 38° 50' W. 



In 1878, the captain of the Laura Ethel reported that he obtained a 

 cast of 36 fathoms, sandy bottom, in the above position, which is about 

 250 miles East (true) of the Flemish Cap. 



VIEGIN EOCKS, lat. 46° 26' 57" N., long. 50° 47' 40" W. 



These rocks, forming a dangerous reef, 87 miles S.E. ^ E. from Cape 

 Eace, together with the surrounding dangers, are described in page 500. 



• See " Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society," vol. xiii., 1869, pages 93—98. 



