Magnetic Survey of the Pacific Ocea 



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2 37 



AN INTERESTING PHOTOGEAPH 



THE first impression from the pic- 

 ture on the opposite page is that 

 it is a winter scene, with a river flowing- 

 past snow-covered banks ; but what looks 

 like snow is in reality the purest salt. It 

 furnishes excellent table salt without 

 further preparation. Some six feet un- 

 derneath it a coarser quality, similar to 

 the "Liverpool salt," is found. Springs 

 of water running through this salt bed 

 are surcharged with salt and deposit 

 their residue in the form shown in the 

 picture. The trees in the background 

 are underlaid with pure white salt, and 

 on the removal of the top soil to a depth 

 of some three or four feet a solid hill of 

 salt is reached. 



MAGNETIC SURVEY OF THE PACIFIC 

 OCEAN 



THE Yacht Galilee, engaged in the 

 magnetic survey of the Pacific 

 Ocean, under the auspices of the Car- 

 negie Institution of Washington, left San 

 Diego, California, on March 2 to enter 

 upon her second cruise. She is expected 

 to make the following circuit of about 

 20,000 miles by the end of this year : San 

 Diego, Fanning Island, Samoan Islands, 

 Fiji Islands, Marshall Islands, Guam, 

 Yokohama, Aleutian Islands, and back 

 again to San Diego. 



It • was necessary to reorganize the 

 scientific personnel, as those of the 

 former staff belonging to the U. S. Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey were obliged to re- 

 turn to their official duties at the expira- 

 tion of their furloughs. The command 

 of the vessel has accordingly now been 

 entrusted to Mr W. J. Peters, formerly 

 of the astronomical and topographical 

 corps of the U. S. Geological Survey. He 

 has had considerable experience in diffi- 

 cult geographical work, was second in 

 command and in charge of the scientific 

 work of the recent Ziegler Polar Expe- 

 dition as the representative of the Na- 

 tional Geographic Society. 



In connection with the latter expedi- 

 tion, Mr Peters made a valuable series of 

 magnetic, meteorological and tidal obser- 



Walter Wellman 



vations at Teplitz Bay, Franz Josef Land. 

 The other members of the present staff 

 are : Mr J. P. Ault, magnetic observer 

 (likewise a member of the former staff) ;. 

 Mr J. C. Pearson, magnetic observer 

 (formerly instructor of physics at Bow- 

 doin College), and Dr H. E. Martyn,. 

 surgeon and recorder. While the vessel' 

 was at San Diego some additional' 

 changes and improvements were made- 

 both in the ship and in the instruments 

 employed. Sufficient funds have been 

 allotted so as to permit carrying on this- 

 work continuously throughout the year. 



According to a dispatch received at the 

 office of the Department of Terrestrial 

 Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of" 

 Washington, the Yacht Galilee,enga.ged in 

 the magnetic survey of the Pacific Ocean, 

 arrived safely at Fanning Island on 

 March 31, having accomplished the trip- 

 of 3,500 miles from San Diego in 29* 

 days, besides executing successful] v. r 

 magnetic work along the entire cruise. 

 L. A. Bauer.. 



