DEEP-SEA EXPLORING EXPEDITION 



293 



two runners 6 feet long and 4 

 feet high, connected by a 20- 

 foot beam, which has an up- 

 ward curve of 2 feet from the 

 horizontal in order to increase 

 the size of the entrance of the 

 net. Fitted to this frame is a 

 bag 30 feet long, made of -j^-- 

 inch twine, with an 8-inch 

 mesh ; a funnel-shaped throat 

 is attached 7 feet back from 

 the lead-line. The mouth of 

 this trawl is twice the size of 

 that of the largest trawl here- 

 tofore constructed. The wide 

 mesh permits the escape of 

 the mud and finer bottom ma- 

 terial which contribute so much 

 to the weight when the ordinary 

 small-mesh trawls are lifted. 



While the deep-sea investi- 

 gations will receive the most 

 attention, surface and interme- 

 diate towing, shore-seining, and 

 fishing trials with lines, gill- 

 nets, and other appliances will 

 be regularl}' carried on and 

 will undoubtedly yield rich 

 collections. This is a region 

 abounding in atolls and ele- 

 vated reefs, many of which will 

 be visited and studied for the 

 purpose of obtaining data bear- 

 ing on the disputed question of 

 the origin of coral reefs. 



The Albatross is manned by 

 about 10 officers and 70 petty 

 officers and enlisted men of the 

 United States Navy. The com- 

 manding officer is Lieutenant 

 Commander Jefferson F.Moser, 

 U. 8. N. The civilian staff on 



