[43] WORK OF FISH COMMISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS. 150 



111., and lay to until dayliglit, about 5.30 a. ni., when we sounded in 

 2,949 fathoms, globigerina ooze, latitude 37° 12' 20" I^., longitude 09° 

 39' W., near the center of the Gulf Stream. The sinker, 64 pounds 

 weight, was thirty-four minutes in reaching the bottom, and the specimen 

 cup came up in thirty-six minutes. The thermometer registered at some 

 intermediate depth not far from the surface, having capsized in some 

 way in its descent. The net of the beam trawl was examined with 

 great care, and every foreign substance removed, so that there should 

 be no doubt as to whether specimens found were taken during the haul, 

 or were in the net when it went down. 



At 7.14 a. m. the trawl was put over, reaching the bottom at lO^^ 13"' 

 30^, having veered 4,100 fathoms of rope. At 12.54 p. m. began heaving 

 up, and at 3.18 p. m. it was landed on deck. It was a successful haul 

 in every respect. The moderate breeze of the morning increased to a 

 strong wind with heavy swell before the trawl was uj), making it doubt- 

 ful whether we would succeed in landing it. A set of serial tempera- 

 tures and specific gravities were attempted after finishing the haul, but 

 the strong current, high wind, rugged sea, and threatening weather 

 forced ns to give it up after having veered 300 fathoms of rope. 



The method adopted to regulate the drift was at least original. The 

 current of the stream was so strong that the trawl would not take the 

 bottom, and to eftectthis object an officer was stationed on the forecastle 

 with a dredging quadrant constantly observing the angle of the dredge 

 rope, the engines being moved with sufficient speed to maintain it within 

 certain prescribed limits. 



At 4.30 p. in. there was a moderate gale from SW. Hove to under 

 fore storm stay-sail, head to the southward, drifting rapidly with the 

 stream about NE. by E. At midnight it was still blowing a moderate 

 gale, with heavy sea, barometer 29.70, the air exceedingly sultry, and 

 incessant flashes of lightning in every direction. At 1.40 a. m., 3d in- 

 stant, we started ahead N. and ran under moderate speed till 11.05 a. m., 

 when, wind and sea having moderated, we sounded in 1,028 fathoms, 

 globigerina ooze, latitude 39° 22' I^[., longitude 68° 34' 30" W., and at 

 12.13 p. m. put the beam trawl over, veering to 2,300 fathoms. There 

 was still a fresh breeze from NW., with heavy swell and very strong- 

 stream. The trawl was down at 1.59, dragged till 3.08, and was landed 

 at 4.25 p. m. There were some interesting specimens, but most of the 

 things were washed out of the net on the way up. At 4.31 p. ra. we 

 sounded in 1,686 fathoms, globigerina ooze, latitude 39° 18' 30" IST., lon- 

 gitude 68° 24' W., and at 5.15 p. m. put the trawl over, veering to 2,650 

 fathoms. It was on the bottom at 7.10, began heaving up at 8.15, and 

 landed it on deck at 9.39 p. m. The heavy swell and strong stream com- 

 bined washed a large proportion of the specimens from the net, but 

 several new or rare species were secured. A course was laid to the 

 northward as soon as the haul was finished and the speed regulated so 

 as to strike the 100-fathom line in longitude 67^ 50' W. at daylight, where 



