Introductory 



our knowledge of oceanography and zoology, have been conducted 

 over large areas of space. There yet remain problems of vast interest 

 which can best be solved by smaller expeditions working over smaller 

 areas and working continuously. Observations, for instance, which 

 can be taken month by month over a small selected area must yield 

 results of very great importance. 



On these voyages the objects have been : (1) To take hydro- 

 graphical observations — i.e., records of the temperature of the water 

 from the surface to 1,000 fathoms (sometimes to 1,500- and 1,800 

 fathoms), along with collection of samples of water in a suitable 

 ' water-bottle ' from these depths. These are at once bottled (in glass 

 bottles) on board the ship, and at the termination of the cruise the 

 water is analyzed to determine the salinity. These analyses have 

 been carried out under the supervision of Dr. H. N. Dickson at 

 Oxford, and his reports are given below. During 1904, also, a great 

 many vacuum tubes were filled with water from various depths for 

 the subsequent analysis of the proportions of oxygen and carbonic 

 acid. These analyses, which have been made by Professor Pettersson 

 at Stockholm, have yielded results of great interest and importance. 

 (2) The collection of the plankton, or minute life of the sea, in tine 

 silk nets, which gives important results, besides assisting hydro- 

 graphy in determining the vertical and horizontal distribution of the 

 smaller animals and of plants, which, though in many cases actively 

 swimming, are in all cases more or Jess, and in some entirely, at the 

 mercy of oceanic currents, and which also results in the discovery of 

 many new species. 



The circulation of the oceanic waters of the North Atlantic Ocean 

 and the causes of the same, which has been ascribed variously to 

 physical causes — viz., the heating of surface waters of the tropical 

 regions, and cooling of water in the Polar regions ; to tbe influence of 

 prevailing winds ; shortly and vigorously by Pettersson to the melting 

 of ice from the Polar regions — are matters for subsequent discussion. 

 It is thought better for the present merely to record in the pages 

 following the scientific observations which I have made from the 



