76 ON THE DEEP OCEANIC DEPEESSION 



and this, that part of the " Tuscarora's" work was countermanded, 

 and therefore no comparison can be instituted between the line 

 now in operation and the one intended by the United States. 

 After a brief stay in these waters, the "Tuscarora " sailed, as I 

 understood, for San Francisco ; but I believe she had not reached 

 that port at the date of late advices. 



I consider it only right to offer this explanation to the Society 

 before I mention the contents of Captain Miller's communication, 

 which is, though brief, of considerable importance, as pointing 

 out some peculiarities in the ocean bed off the southern part of 

 the coast of Queensland. 



It is to be borne in mind that the instruments on board the 

 " Tuscarora " were not of the elaborate character of those on board 

 the " Challenger," some of which in operation I had the pleasure of 

 witnessing in a dredging excursion off this coast ; but they 

 appeared to me to be amply sufficient for the purpose intended. 

 Nor were there any means of obtaining the information so 

 diligently sought for, as to the inhabitants of the deep ocean, by 

 Professor Thomson and his able assistants. Nevertheless, Captain 

 Miller had collected some interesting objects for future examina- 

 tion. 



