Sediments brought into suspension were observed to 

 drift rapidly past the bathyscaph port. Water particle 

 movenaent through the illuminated area was at the rate of 

 0. 7 cm /sec. Water flow was perpendicular to the long 

 axis of the ripple marks. An attempt to obtain sediment 

 samples for correlation of water current velocity and the 

 physical dimensions of the ripples was thwarted by the 

 accidental loss of the sampler. There was no evidence 

 of burrowing or benthic organisms. Some pelagic inverte- 

 brates were seen in the water immediately above the sea 

 floor. Suspended inanimate particles were also present, 

 but in such quantities that visibility was not seriously 

 affected. 



DIVE NO. 78 



While this dive was made about sixty miles from Dive 

 No. 75, the materials making up the sea floor sediments at 

 this location appeared to be the same as in Dive No. 75. 

 However, ripple marks here were definitely crossed and 

 deteriorating, A thin mantle of dark substance had settled 

 on the bottom, occluding the clean white sediment observed 

 on Dive No. 75. The bearing strength of the material was 

 comparable to that of the previous sea- floor sediment 

 encountered. Biological life was limited to one starfish 

 and possibly a few tube- dwelling worms. 



An artifact of man that caused great concern was an 

 unexploded 5- inch projectile that was located directly in 

 the circle of light provided by the bow lamp. Ironically, 

 a beer can was leaning against the base of the projectile. 

 Both objects were supported high on the surface of the sea- 

 floor sediment. There was no evidence of scour or settling 

 of these two artifacts (fig. 12). Water current flow here 

 was very slow and seemed to vary in direction. Poor 

 illumination vitiated any attempt to determine the precise 

 velocity of the current. 



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