CHAP. II.] THE CRUISE OF THE ' LIOHTNINO: 59 



we were compelled to lie-to under canvas, drifting to 

 the northward towards the edge of the Fseroe Banks, 

 any attempt to dredge being out of the question. 

 On the 13th, during a lull, we sounded and found no 

 bottom at 450 fathoms (Station 1, PI. I.), with a 

 minimum temperature of 9°'5 C, the temperature of 

 the surface water being 12°-o 0. This was so high a 

 temperature for so considerable a depth that we sus- 

 pected some error in the indications of the thermo- 

 meters, three of Six's registering instruments of the 

 Hydrographic OfS.ce pattern. Subsequent observa- 

 tions however in the same locality showed us that 

 the temperature to the depth of 600 to 700 fathoms 

 in that region is the moderate temperature of the 

 northward current of the gulf stream. 



The Eseroe Banks are greatly frequented in the 

 fishing season by English and foreign fishing-smacks. 

 Of coarse the principal object is to prepare cured or 

 hard-fish, but many of the English vessels are welled 

 for the supply of fresh cod for the London market. 



A large square tank occupies the middle of the 

 vessel, and holes in the sides allow the water to pass 

 freely through it. The water in the tank is thus 

 kept perfectly fresh ; the best of the cod are put into 

 it, and they stand the voyage perfectly. It is curious 

 to see the great creatures moving gracefully about 

 in the tank like gold-fish in a glass globe. They are 

 no doubt ' quite unaccustomed to man,' and conse- 

 quently they are tame ; and with their long smooth 

 mottled faces, their huge mouths, and lidless un- 

 speculative eyes, they are about as unfamiliar objects 

 as one can well see. They seem rather to like to 

 be scratched, as they are greatly infested by caligi 



