NOTES ON DEEP SEA SOUNDINGS. 59 



In 2,800 fathoms the bottom was green mud ; it is an enclosed 

 basin, with border only 800 fathoms deep, temperature 37°5, the 

 same as at 900 fathoms. There was found water 600 fathoms 

 deep over the spot marked as Bird Island on the chart. 



Leaving Banda, search was made for a reported 4,000 fathoms' 

 sounding ; bottom was struck at 1,450 fathoms, ooze, five miles 

 beyond the site, which would give 1 in 2 for a five miles' incline. 

 The conclusion is that the announcement was incorrect.* 



The deepest sounding iu the Malacca Sea was 1,200 fathoms, 

 with temperature of 35°2. At 200 fathoms the temperature 

 was nearly the same as on the Equator in the Atlantic, but the 

 surface was warmer. 



Between Banka, oiF the coast of Celebes, and Bejaren, 2,150 

 fathoms were reached, red clay bottom, 23 miles west of Maqui- 

 liere. The Celebes Sea is cut off below 700 fathoms, with a temper- 

 ature of 38°6, in agreement with Captain Chimmo's observations. 

 Forty miles from Point Pola, Mindanao, on 22nd October, bottom 

 at 2,600 fathoms, temperature the same as the last, was reached. 



At Ilo Ilo the depth was 2,550 fathoms, temperature 50° — ■ 

 same as that reported by Chimmo, and deduced from his observa- 

 tions by Dr. Carpenter. Thirty miles west of Piedra Point, 

 Manila, ooze at 1,050 fathoms, temperature 36°"3, was reached. 

 A deep channel exists between Formosa and Luzon ; the tem- 

 perature agreed with " that obtained by Captain Chimmo ; but 

 at the lesser depth of 550 fathoms must have been incorrect." At 

 Manila the air temperature was between 75° and 85°, and 

 oppressive, surface water constant at 82°. 



From Commander Tizard's notes, we learn, in addition to the 

 data given in my Address, that the temperatures of the Celebes 

 and the China Seas (the mean distance of which is 8 degrees of 

 latitude) agree well, both receiving their waters from the Pacific 

 (the points of connection with that ocean being, however, 

 respectively 4° N. and 20^° N.) the temperature of both being 

 45° at 300 fathoms, and 40° at 600 fathoms of depth. 



The China Sea is somewhat colder than that of Celebes below 

 500 fathoms, showing a great circulation from the Pacific Ocean. 



The Celebes ridge is stated by Commander Tizard to be 700 

 fathoms or less (quoted by me from a former document as 400), 

 the China ridge at 900 fathoms, and the ridge between the Celebes 

 and the Sulu Sea at not more than 200 fathoms, and that between 

 the Sulu and China Seas at 170 fathoms. The Banda Sea is con- 

 siderably higher in temperature than the Celebes ; and as the mean 

 latitude of the latter is about 5° N. of the Equator, and of the 

 former 5° S., the temperature of the Banda Sea is governed by 



* Whilst at Amboina the Dutch mail steamer, which travels from Sourabaya 

 to Ternate and Banda came well freighted. Coal sold there at £3 4s. lid. 

 per ton. 



