26 Extracts from the Log of the 1904 Cruise 



from the steam- winch. This took four hours to accomplish. Hence- 

 forth the old steam capstan and winch were therefore employed, and 

 the net lowered to 1,200 fathoms. The raising on hoard by this 

 means only occupied forty minutes. For the rest of the cruise being 

 compelled to use the old tackle, limited the depth at which it could be 

 employed to 1,600 fathoms. This was very annoying, as it was con- 

 fidently hoped before starting that we should be able to make tow-net 

 observations down to 2,000 fathoms ; but it would have delayed the 

 cruise too long to return to land for repairs and new appliances. 

 Water and gas samples were also taken at this station. 



station 3. On June 23, 1904, in position Lat. 49° 50' X., Long. 13° 31' W., the 

 tow-net was used down to 600 fathoms, the lowest depth at which it was 

 possible to work the net satisfactorily. A fresh breeze having sprung 

 up, with a falling barometer and a westerly wind, it was a case of beating 

 to windward all night, and at 4 a.m., on June 2-1, the next station, in 



station 4. Lat. 49° 0' N. and Long. 14° 36' W., was reached, and the net lowered to 

 1,000 fathoms. While it was down the wind shifted to south-west, and 

 the ship rolling badly in the trough of the sea, the net came up again with 

 a kink in the wire at 35 fathoms above the frame. This had evidently 

 occurred after the opening messenger had gone down, as the net was 

 open, and the closing messenger was stopped by the kink in the wire. 

 Taking out the kink, the net was again lowered to 1,000 fathoms, and 

 this time came up with a kink in the same place, and both messengers 

 arrested in it. The net had therefore never opened, and it was 

 necessary to cut off the 35 fathoms below the kink. Incidentally it 

 furnished evidence of the perfection of the opening and closing 

 arrangements. From 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. was, therefore, so much 

 wasted time, but a third attempt to use the net at 1,000 fathoms was 

 rewarded by success. As there was a good deal of swell in the sea, 

 not much came up in the net. Put clown again to 800 fathoms, this 

 time on raising it the cod end of the silk net was split, and all the 

 contents had escaped. After repairing, it was sent down to the same 

 depth, and this time the haul was successful. Hauls at 600, 400, and 

 200 fathoms were all that could now be done in deep water, the wind 



