[21] 



FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 533 



earlier expedition undor Wilkes, given more important zoological results than any- 

 similar explorations under the Navy Department. It sailed from the United States iu 

 June, 1853, and continued its work through 1854 and 1855, returning in 1856 The 

 great value of its zoological results were dne to the untiring zeal of its chief zoologist, 

 Dr. William Stimpson, whose previous studies and explorations particularly fitted 

 him for the position. 



This expedition was carried on under an appropriation from Congress in 1852, for 

 "building or purchase of suitable vessels, and for prosecuting a survey and reconnais- 

 sance, for naval and commercial purposes, of such parts of Bering Straits, of the North 

 Pacific Ocean and the China seas, as are frequented by American whale-ships, and by 

 trading vessels in their routes between the United States and China." The necessary 

 vessels were procured and equipped in the most substantial manner, and fitted out 

 with all the instruments required for making observations in astronomy, hydrography, 

 magnetism, and meteorology, together with the most complete equipment of natural 

 history apparatus which had ever been taken to sea up to that time, Captain C. 

 Ringgold, who had formerly been connected with the United States exploring expedi- 

 tion under Captain Wilkes, was placed in command; but, being recalled to the United 

 States in 1854, he was superseded by Captain John Rodgers. The squadron was organ- 

 ized as follows : Sloop " Vincennes," bearing the flag of Commander Ringgold ; Lieu- 

 tenant Rolando, commanding and executive officer; Lieutenant J. M. Brooke, assistant 

 astronomer; William Stimpson, zoologist to the expedition; F. H. Storer, chemist 

 and taxidermist; Edward M. Kern, photographer and artist. Steamer "John Han- 

 cock/'' Lieutenant John Rodgers commanding; Charles Wright, botanist to the expe- 

 dition; A. H. Ames, assistant naturalist. Brig "Porpoise," Lieutenant Alonzo B. 

 Davis commanding ; schooner " Fenuimore Cooper," Acting Lieutenant H. R. Stevens 

 commanding; storeship "John P. Kennedy," Lieutenant Napoleon Collins com- 

 manding. 



The vessels left Norfolk in June, 1853, and, after touching at the island of Madeira, 

 proceeded to Hong-Kong, China, via the Cape of Good Hope. On this passage, the sloop 

 "Vincennes" and the brig "Porpoise" passed by the way of Van Diemen's Land, 

 through the Coral Seas, and by the Caroline, Ladrone, and Bashee islands; and the 

 steamer "John Hancock," the store-ship, and the tender by the way of the straits of 

 Suuda and Gaspar, the Carimata and Billeton passages, and the Sooloo Sea. The 

 existence of a civil war in China at the time of the arrival of the expedition at Hong- 

 Kong occasioned some delay in the progress of the exploring work, which was again 

 resumed in the latter part of 1854. Subsequently the expedition proceeded northward, 

 continuing the observations and collecting along the coasts of Japan, and Kamt- 

 schatka, in Bering Straits, on the coast of California, and at Tahiti, from which lat- 

 ter place it returned directly home by way of the Cape of Good Hope. The natural 

 history results were of great magnitude, filling many boxes and barrels, and embrac- 

 ing very many new and rare species. The extent and value of the zoological collec- 

 tions may be judged from the following table of the number of species of each group 



obtained: 



Species. 



Vertebrates 846 



Insects 400 



Crustacea 980 



Annelids 220 



Mollusks 2,359 



Radiates 406 



Total 5,211 



The plants in their original packages occupied a bulk of over 100 cubic feet. 

 Soon after his return to the United States, Dr. William Stimpson became the direc- 

 tor of the Chicago Academy of Science, to which place nearly all the invertebrate 

 materials of the expedition were transferred. Considerable progress had been made 



