xxxviii President's Address 



its survey extending as low down as the Mediterranean, and 

 its dredging operations proving successful at depths till then 

 unattained, namely 1,500 fathoms, or nearly two miles. 



The valuable results of the voyage of the Porcupine 

 made it obvious that, with more effective means, still more 

 important conquests and discoveries of the secrets hidden 

 in the blue depths were attainable. Her Majesty's 

 Government wisely agreed to fit out a vessel of size and 

 power commensurate with the work in the larger and more 

 ambitious form to which, by a process of natural growth, 

 it had now expanded. All that science could devise, or 

 skill construct, for contributing to this great object was 

 supplied. Improved apparatus for exploring the floors of 

 the deepest oceans, for ascertaining the force and direction 

 of the oceanic currents, for registering the temperature of 

 the sea at all depths, for bringing to daylight the denizens 

 of even the deepest and darkest abysms, as well as the 

 means of adding to geographical knowledge, and to that of 

 climatology, besides all requisite tools for chemical and 

 physical research concerning the sea in the many aspects, 

 geological, biological, meteorological, &c, in which this 

 great mobile mantle of the earth may be viewed. These 

 and much more were furnished. I dare not attempt to 

 enter into details concerning the admirable appointments 

 provided for this truly national undertaking, nor may I 

 speak of the wisely selected staff of scientific observers, 

 but perhaps I may be permitted to quote the language of 

 Dr. Carpenter, who first, in reference to one section only of 

 the results already achieved states, " That the temperature 

 survey of the Atlantic may be truly characterised as the 

 most important single contribution ever made to Terrestrial 

 Physics, presenting as it does the whole thermal stratification 

 of an oceanic area of about fifteen million square miles, 

 and with an average depth of 15,000 feet." Dr. Carpenter 



