there was an azoic zone where all life disappeared. It seems a bit 

 difficult to understand how Forbes could have maintained such a 

 view, particularly since in 1817 and 18 18 Sir James Ross had 

 brought up starfishes and other animals from a depth of 1000 

 fathoms. The discussions stimulated by Forbes's idea triggered 

 many attempts to test it. 



Several expeditions by British Naval ships set out, notably the 

 Rattlesnake, Bulldog, Lightning, and Porcupine. Each ship had a natu- 

 ralist on board and all succeeded in bringing up many animals from 

 depths far greater than 300 fathoms. Even so, many scientists stub- 

 bornly refused to be convinced that animals could survive at such 

 depths. But in 1 860, when the telegraph cable between Sardinia and 

 Bone was raised for repairs, little doubt could remain. The cable 

 was incrusted with thousands of animals — and it was known to 

 have lain on the sea bed at depths up to 1000 fathoms. To settle the 

 matter once and for all, the British organized marine biology's 

 first ocean-going expedition, that of the Challenger. 



In December 1872 H.M.S. Challenger, stripped of her guns, 

 loaded with scientific gear, and with a party of biologists led by 

 Professor C. Wyville Thomson, sailed for a cruise around the world. 

 For three and a half years she went on trawling and dredging, 

 taking samples of the sea bed. In the course of her voyage she 

 covered 68,890 nautical miles, and on her return the mountain of 

 specimens and data she had collected were studied by leading scien- 

 tists of the world. The results, published in a series of massive 

 volumes, marked a turning point in the study of the oceans. 



At long last things were begiiming to dovetail. On the heels of 

 the Challenger expedition cruises by other research ships were be- 

 ginning to build up a picture of the shore and the shallow seas. 



As late as 1860 there were still those who 

 stubbornly believed that marine life could 

 not exist below 300 fathoms. In that year 

 a telegraph cable raised for repairs from 

 a depth of 1000 fathoms near Sardinia 

 dispelled all doubt when a variety of marine 

 life was found clinging to it. 



Sir Charles Wyville Thomson was scientific 

 officer on the famous Challenger expedition. 



115 



