178 University of California Publications in Zoology |Vou.9 
especially when, as is the case with the scientific gear, the weight 
is attached at a point considerably above the water line. These 
disadvantages are particularly in evidence when work: is being 
done in rough weather or in a heavy sea-way. 
Again the excessive stern overhang, while of undoubted 
advantage as regards the end in view which gave her this charae- 
teristic, namely, the protection of the cables and nets from the 
propeller blades, is far from advantageous in another way. In 
even a moderately rough sea when the boat comes to a standstill 
or to slow headway, as she always must to do her scientific work, 
the waves strike under the stern with a force that is surprising 
to one who has not considered the possibilities in such a case, 
and which becomes a rather serious obstacle to the operations. 
While admirably adapted to work in smooth and shallow water, 
at least as far as general design is concerned, she has not the 
right style of hull for open-sea, deep-water exploration. The 
truth is, a diversity of requirements, practically unrealizable in 
any one boat, was attempted in planning the ‘‘ Agassiz.’’ Ex- 
perience has proved that while it might be possible to design a 
satisfactory open-sea boat that would answer rather well for 
as 
shallow, smooth water, the most desirable craft for work of the 
last mentioned sort cannot be made that will operate most effec- 
tively in the open ocean. Since on the whole our enterprise is 
more concerned with oceanic problems than with those of land- 
locked and in-shore waters, we would have done better had we 
built a boat with greater draught, a keel instead of a center- 
board, and a somewhat different form of bow and stern. The 
increased storage room that would have been secured by the 
deeper hull would have been an important gain, since as our 
problems define themselves with the progress of the investigation, 
it becomes clear that occasional cruises to greater distances from 
the home port and hence of longer duration, than was seriously 
contemplated at first, will be necessary. 
? 
ce 
It is not to be understood that the ‘‘Agassiz’’ is wholly un- 
suited to her task. A moment’s reflection on what she really has 
accomplished and is all the time accomplishing is sufficient proof 
that such is not the case. She has two features that may be 
mentioned as particularly advantageous—her twin propelling 
