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Dr. Carpenter's Preliminary Report [Dec. 17, 



and objects. For we cannot but believe that Physicists, Physieal Geogra- 

 phers, Naturalists, and Geologists will alike desire such a careful and 

 detailed exploration of the Sea-bottom between the North of Scotland and 

 the Faroe Islands; as may determine with precision, — (1) the depth in 

 every part of that area ; (2) the temperature, not merely of every part of 

 the bottom, but also at various depths of the water that lies upon it, say, 

 at every 50 fathoms vertically ; (3) the precise boundaries of the cold 

 area of bottom-temperature which separates the northern and southern 

 portions of the warm area ; (4) the direction and rate of any current that 

 may be detected in either or each of these areas ; (5) the relative compo- 

 sition of the water in these areas respectively ; (6) the relative proportions 

 of gases contained in the sea-water at different depths, and in the same 

 depth at different temperatures ; (7) the penetrating power of the Actinic 

 rays in their passage through Sea- water ; (8) the nature, composition, 

 and sources of the deposits in progress over the several parts of the 

 sea-bottom, especially distinguishing those of its warm and those of its 

 cold tracts, as well as those along the line or band of demarcation be- 

 tween the two ; and (8) the distribution of Animal and Vegetable Life 

 throughout the whole region, as complete a collection as possible being 

 made by repeated dredgings in every part of it, so as to furnish materials 

 for valid inferences as to the relations of its several forms to the depth, 

 temperature, and character of the sea-bottom on which they respectively 

 occur. 



The near proximity of this area to our own shores, and the consequent 

 facility with which a vessel may be kept at sea during the whole of the 

 season most suitable for work of this kind, by running for supplies to 

 Stornoway, Lerwick, or Kirkwall (as may be most convenient), renders it 

 peculiarly fitting for such an investigation ; for just as the limited area 

 of the British Islands presents an epitome of the whole Geological series, 

 so does this limited Oceanic area present such varieties of depth and tem- 

 perature, and probably of currents, as are only likely to be met with 

 elsewhere at a far greater distance from land, and over a much wider 

 Geographical range. — But it is also greatly to be desired that these in- 

 quiries should be prosecuted at still greater depths ; and such may be 

 reached with no less facility by proceeding westwards from the West of 

 Scotland or the North-west of Ireland, a depth of at least 1300 fathoms 

 being known to exist between these Coasts and Roekall Banks. 



It only remains for me to tender the grateful acknowledgments of Pro- 

 fessor Wyville Thomson and myself to Her Majesty's Government for the 

 readiness with which they acceded to the recommendation of the President 

 and Council of the Royal Society, and for the liberality with which the means 

 of prosecuting our inquiries were furnished by the Admiralty ; and we 

 would in particular express our obligations to the Hvclrographer to the 

 Admiralty for the earnestness with which he took up the idea of this Ex- 



