40 TRY FOE BEEP SEA SOUNBINGS. 



On .June 14th, when in lat, 40° 45' S., and 

 long. 133° 23' E., the occuiTence of a calm during 

 the forenoon, although accompanied by a consider- 

 able swell, induced Captain Stanley to make a third 

 attempt to obtain deep sea soundings. He had 

 been much interested in the success of experiments 

 of this kind, in which the grand desideratum has 

 alwa3'S been to produce positive proof of having 

 reached bottom by bringing up a portion of its 

 substance, hitherto unattempted on accoimt of the 

 great length of time required for the experiment, 

 and the disproportionate strength of the line to the 

 enormous weight employed, should any sudden jerk 

 ensue from the heave of the sea. Captain Stanley 

 had at length succeeded in contriving a very in- 

 genious apparatus by which, upon striking sound- 

 ings, the eight S2 lbs. shot employed would be 

 immediately detached, leaving no greater weight to 

 be hauled up than the iron framework to which the 

 shot was slung, and a small beU-lead with the usual 

 " arming" of tallow, to which portions of the bottom 

 would adhere. The line was similar to that em- 

 ployed on January 12th, as then carefully coiled 

 away in casks, each of which held from 800 to 

 1000 fathoms, and ran out remarkably well, vrith- 

 out any tendency to " kink" or get foul ; but, un- 

 fortunately, after 3500 fathoms (or forty yards less 

 than four statute miles) had gone out, the line 

 parted, from some flaw, it is sujiposed, as a piece of 

 the same bore a far heavier weight when tested sub- 



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