464 



MR J. Y. BUCHANAN, F.R.S., ON THE 



mometers, bottom was struck at 60 fathoms. On getting up the anchor, and after 

 heaving in the extra cable which had been paid out, I sounded when the cable was up 

 and down, and found exactly 104 fathoms, so that the anchor had held and remained in 

 the deep place while the ship swung into water that was 44 fathoms shallower. When 



N85?E 



Loch Fyne. Section V. — Knapdale to Cowal through Barmore and Black Harbour. 



the anchor was brought up, a large mass of clay and dead shells, principally Pecten, was 

 sticking to one of the flukes ; and this was the specimen which contained the manganese 

 nodules, which at that time were not supposed to exist anywhere out of the deepest 

 oceans. As the anchor held firmly in the first instance in 60 fathoms, and was not 



Loch Fyne. Section VI. — Knapdale to Cowal through widest part. 



examined before being lowered into the 104-fathom spot, it might be held to have picked 

 up the sample in 60 fathoms, and kept it all the time it was holding the ship in 104 

 fathoms ; but this is not likely. On 24th September 1878 the anchor was again dropped 

 in apparently exactly the same spot, and it brought a quantity of clay and shells exactly 

 like those of the 21st, but containing no nodules. On 1st October a few nodules were 

 got in the deep trough ; and dredging in 50 fathoms on the north side and in 40 fathoms 

 on the south side none were found. On the south side the ground was very rough and 

 rocky in 40 fathoms. 



Although everything went to show that the abundance of nodules really occurred in 

 the deep trough, it was disappointing that I could never get complete confirmation. 

 On 15th July 1881, however, I was again successful, for the anchor-dredge brought up 

 a large bagful of mud, containing abundance of nodules. On this occasion the position of 

 the ship was carefully watched, showing that she dragged over about half a mile of 

 ground, beginning in 100 fathoms and gradually shoaling to 85 fathoms, when the 



