Extracts from the Log of the 1904 Cruise 31 



soundings in this locality would be of interest to determine the area 

 of this comparatively shallow water, but unfortunately the Silver Belle 

 had so much work to accomplish that it was impossible to delay for 

 the purpose of investigating this matter. The sea getting rougher as 

 the day went on, and the swell increasing, made it quite unfavourable 

 for tow-net work, consequently the hauls at 1,500 and 1,200 fathoms 

 were very poor. At 900 and 700 fathoms, however, a lot of stuff was 

 obtained, and a still greater quantity at 200 fathoms. This clay the 

 ship was just about 400 miles from Horta, over 700 from Bantry Bay, 

 and since July 2 a station had been done every day. A strong breeze 

 from north-north-east put the ship at Station 15 in Lat. 42° 37' N., station 

 and Long. 23° 35' W. At 6 a.m. on July 8 the swell was too great 

 for the closing-net, consequently only water samples were taken from 

 1,500 fathoms upwards. 



The wind lasted all night, from the same quarter, and Station 16, station 

 in Lat. 41° 58' N., Long. 24° 44' W., was reached at 6 a.m. next 

 day, July 9. The sea was, however, running rather high, and not 

 very favourable for tow-netting, but the net was put down to 1,500 

 and 1,200 fathoms, with pretty good success at the latter, also at 700 

 and 500, 400, and 300 fathoms. With a light breeze during the night, 

 a course of fifty-three miles was run by 6 a.m. on July 10, and Station 17 Station 

 reached in Lat. 41° 13' N., Long. 25° 18' W. Being a perfect day 

 for work with closing-nets, a light breeze and gentle swell from the 

 north-east, the line was ' plumb ' straight with the net at 1,500 fathoms, 

 and the haul at that depth very good, also at 1,300, 1,000, 900, 

 700, 500, 300, and 100 fathoms. All these hauls were successful. In 

 conditions favourable for tow-netting, there is not the slightest doubt 

 that a considerable amount of animal plankton can be nearly always 

 obtained in the tow-nets to at least 1,500 fathoms' depth, refuting 

 Agassiz's contention of an azoic zone in the ocean, which, however, 

 has been sufficiently disproved already. 



During the night, with very light wind, the ship ran between thirty and station 



18. 



forty miles, and at 6 a.m. Station 18, Lat. 40° 35' N., Long. 25° 54' W., 

 was reached. It was not intended to make a station here, but as the 



