APt»ENt)lXi S35 



IHE "CHALLENGER" SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION. VISIT TO HALIFAX. 



H. M. S. Challenger^ Capt. Nares, arrived at Halifax on the ninth 

 day of May last, from Bermudas. The Challenger is fitted out for a 

 scientific expedition round the world, more especially with reference to 

 an exploration of the ocean in various latitudes, and to ascertain the best 

 situation for successful observations of the transit of Venus in 1874. She 

 has on board Professor Wyville Thompson, of Edinburgh, Chief of the 

 Scientists ; J. Y. Buchanan, M. A. ; H. M. Mosely, M. A. ; John 

 Murray, Esq.; Dr. Willemoes Von Suhm, and J» T. Wild, Esq., 

 all distinguished in their several professions. By the kindness of the 

 first named gentleman, who has several warm personal friends* in 

 Halifax, formerly connected with him in scientific pursuits, and 

 perhaps as an incentive or provocative to the study of Natural Science, 

 every facility was afforded to the ladies and gentlemen of the City 

 for an inspection of the ship, and a view of the submarine wonders 

 that had up to that time been collected. These had been dredged at 

 depths varying from 150 to 3500 fathoms — from the coasts of Portugal 

 and Spain, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Isles, across to the West 

 Indies and Bermudas, and thence to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Very many 

 took advantage of the permission to visit a ship furnished with every 

 appliance for the great work in which she is engaged. 



The magnitude of the expedition may be best estimated by the fact, 

 that, exclusive of outfit, the annual outlay by the British Government 

 during the time employed, is estimated at £60,000 sterling. It' is to 

 be hoped that the results will be commensurate with this lavish expen- 

 diture in the cause of science ; but to say the least, the large amount 

 of experience realized, the many points of interest settled, the correct 

 soundings of the ocean arrived at, will be of vast national importance. 

 The object of the expedition, it is expected, will have been completed by 

 the autumn of 1874. 



Apparata of the most perfect description that human invention has 

 yet attained to, have been employed to promote the success of the expe- 

 dition. The sounding gear is admirably efficient, both for ascertaining 

 the extreme depth and the temperature of the ocean. Bottom has been 

 reached at between three and four thousand fathoms, over four miles. f 



♦Professor Lawson, Dalhousie College; and Rev. Dr. Honeyman, ProYincial Geolo- 

 gist, — both Members of the Hafifax Institute of Natural Science. 



fAt the greatest depth (3,875 fathoms) " the bottom brought up was reddish mud, 

 containing however a considerable quantity of carbonate of lime;" at lesser depths this 

 red mud was of a deeper colour, and extensively diffused, composing the whole matter 

 of the collected soundings. These extreme depths were found to be not inconsistent 

 with the existence of animal life, but not favorable to its development. The red 

 clay is described in Dr. Thompson's notes published in "Nature^" as a large and im- 

 portant phenomena. "In the section of the Atlantic from the Canaries to the "West 

 Indies, it occupies about 1900 miles." It is probably identical with the fertile red 

 earth of the Bermudas, and the brick earth of Jamiaca and other West India Islandss 

 characterized by various authors as of exceptional fertility. 



