June 22, 1S83.] 



SCIENCE. 



569 



the Washington astronomical observations for 

 1846 (National observatory, 1851). The spe- 

 cial report of Lieut. Walsh occupies pp. 55-62 ; 

 the log covers pp. 64-99. Together, they in- 

 clude a large amount of valuable and original 

 data in regard to a wide area of the Atlantic 

 in the region of the Gulf Stream, and to the 

 eastward of it, including the ' Sargasso Sea,' 

 etc. 



In Mr. Ball's second paper he states that 

 ' it appears ' that the wire used ' was of steel, 

 though this is not stated in the log-book.' As 

 this is explicitly stated in the printed report of 

 Lieut. Walsh, it is possible that Mr. Dall has 

 not consulted the latter. 



The following description of the wire and 

 apparatus used is to be found on p. 56. It is 

 of interest to notice that this early apparatus 

 was much lilve the modern improved machines 

 in several respects. 



" Our arrangements for these deep soundings were 

 altogether very complete. It may be well to add an 

 account of them. We had on board 14,300 fathoms 

 of wire, weighing 3,025 .lbs., all of the best English 

 steel, of five different sizes, Nos. 5, 7, 8, 10, and 13 

 (Birmingham gauges). Every part was tested to bear 

 at least one-third more than the weight which it was 

 calculated to sustain. 



" An extent of 7,000 fathoms of this, weighing 1,800 

 lbs. (the remaining 7,300 fathoms, composed of the 

 smaller sizes, Nos. 10 and 13, being stowed away as 

 spare wire), carefully measured and marked with 

 small copper labels, was linked into one piece, and 

 wound upon an iron cylinder, three feet in length 

 and twenty inches in diameter, — the largest-sized 

 wire being wound first, so as to be uppermost in 

 sounding. Two swivels were placed near the lead, 

 and one at each thousand fathoms, to meet the danger 

 of twisting off by the probable rotary motion in reel- 

 ing up. The cylinder with the wire was fitted to a 

 strong wooden frame, and machinery attached — fly- 

 wheel and pinions, to give power in reeling up. 

 Four men at the cranks could reel up with ease, with 

 the whole weight of wire out. Iron friction bands, 

 which proved of indispensable importance, were con- 

 nected to regulate the rate of the wire in running 

 off the reel. One man with his hand upon the lever 

 of one of these friction bands could preserve a uni- 

 form, safe velocity, checking or stopping the wire as 

 required. The whole apparatus could be taken apart 

 and stowed away in pieces (being so large and mas- 

 sive, this was indispensable in so small a vessel as 

 the Taney). When wanted for use, the frame was 

 put together and secured to the deck by iron clamps 

 and bolts, near amidships, the reel hoisted up from 

 below and shipped in its place; a fairleader was 

 secured to the taffrail, being a thick oak plank, 

 rigged out five feet over the stern, having an iron 

 pulley, eigliteen inches diameter, fitted in its outer 

 end, and two sheet iron fenders 3i- feet long, of semi- 

 circular shape, fitted under it, to guard the iron wire 

 from getting a short nip in the drifting of the vessel. 

 The wire was led aft, from the reel, over the pulley 

 which traversed freely in the fairleader, and i^assed 

 between these fenders into the water. 



"The time occupied in the descent of the 5,700 

 fathoms, at the moderate rate it was allowed to go 



off the reel, using the friction bands, was exactly 1^ 

 hours. I found in the subsequent soundings [see 

 May 14], that two or three men could reel up 1,000 

 fathoms in 2i hours, taking time to rub dry and oil 

 it in passing to tlie reel, to guard against rust." 



In the trial referred to, it is stated that a 

 ten-pound lead, with a Stellwagen cup, and a 

 six-pound instrument for indicating depth, 

 were attached to the wire. 



The following account of this first use of the 

 steel wire, on Nov. 14, 1849, extracted from 

 the published lo^ of the Taney (p. 69), is of 

 interest at the present time. Lieut. Walsh, in 

 this connection and elsewhere, expressed great 

 confidence in the accuracy of this determina- 

 tion of depth, though it has been regarded 

 by others (perhaps without sufficient reason) 

 as itnreliable. 



"At 1 h. 25 m., P.M., started the wire machine, 

 and at 2 h. 55 m., p.m., had reeled off 5,700 fathoms, 

 dead up and dovm, without striking bottom, when 

 the wire parted at one of the links on the reel. We 

 had observed some of the links of this large sized 

 wire to catch at times on others upon the reel, en- 

 dangering a break, and in consequence, at the time 

 it parted, we were reeling off very slowly and care- 

 fully checking it by the friction band, which worked 

 admirably. A link going off the reel caught in an- 

 other under it upon the reel and before it could be 

 extricated, it snapped in the middle of the link. This 

 was the largest-sized wire. No. 7. The whole time of 

 reeling off, the wire went down perfectly plumb — it 

 served as an anchor to keep the vessel steady, and 

 there was at no time a variation of one-half a degree 

 from the 'plumb.' We were highly encouraged, ex- 

 pecting to strike bottom every moment, and our sor- 

 row and disappointment upon the break and loss of 

 the wire, great indeed." 



This locality was in N. lat. 31° 59', W. 

 long. 58° 43', east of the Bermudas, and not 

 very far from the part of the Atlantic where 

 the greatest depths known have subsequently 

 been found. But this particular region appar- 

 ently has not been re-examined. If correct, 

 this sounding would be more than 1,000 fath- 

 oms deeper than any other that is authentic. 



Lieut. Walsh appears to have fully appreci- 

 ated the main cause of the several failures 

 with the wire. 



"In all our subsequent work under this head, I 

 found the heave of the sea, however slight, was the 

 great difficulty — the lifting of the stern in the latch- 

 ing motion causing such an immense increase of 

 strain upon the wire, breaking it upon almost every 

 occasion on reaching about 2,000 fathoms." 



Probably the use of heavier leads would 

 have increased the liability of the wire to 

 break from this cause. This trouble is reme- 

 died, in the modern sounding-machines, by 

 the use of vulcanized rubber springs or ' ac- 

 cumulators,' which relieve the sudden strains 



