1869.] 



on the Scientific Exploration of the Deep Sea. 



407 



which it was applied. With the drum ordinarily used it brought up on one 

 occasion, from a depth of 767 fathoms, just half a ton of Atlantic mud, in a 

 Dredge which, with its appurtenances, weighed 8 cwt., — making 18cwt. 

 in the whole. This was not the limit of its capability ; for by the substitu- 

 tion of a smaller drum a still greater power could be obtained, — of course 

 at the sacrifice of speed ; and it was by this means that the heaviest 

 Dredge, containing 1| cwt. of Atlantic mud, was drawn up, by a rope of 

 more than three nautical miles in length, from a depth of 2435 fathoms 

 (§§ 45-50). 



9. The working of the Dredge was superintended throughout by Capt. 

 Calver, whose trained ability very early gave him so complete a mastery 

 over the operation, that he found no difficulty in carrying it down to depths 

 at which this kind of exploration would have been previously deemed out 

 of the question. It is impossible for us to speak too highly of the skill he 

 displayed, or too warmly of the sympathy he showed in our work. The 

 placing the Dredge on a bottom nearly three miles from the surface, the 

 working it while there, and the subsequent hauling of it in, with its pre- 

 cious sample of the Life of the Ocean-bed at that vast depth (all executed 

 without the smallest failure, or even such a •• hitch " as might have caused 

 the loss of an entire day's work), is an achievement of which our Com- 

 mander might well be proud, if pride were in his nature. That only one 

 Dredge was lost daring the whole Expedition affords ample proof alike of 

 the excellence of his arrangements and of the unwearying assiduity with 

 which they were carried into effective operation. We would here add that 

 the other Officers of the ' Porcupine,' viz. Staff- Commander Inskipp, Mr. 

 Davidson, and Lieut. Browning, most heartily and zealously seconded their 

 Commander, in promoting alike the scientific objects of the Expedition 

 and the welfare and comfort of all who were engaged in carrying them 

 out. 



10. With regard to the equipment of the Ship, it only remains to be added 

 that the Chart Room was assigned for the Scientific work of the Expedition ; 

 and that the accommodation it afforded (though not all that could be de- 

 sired) enabled Chemical Analyses and Microscopic observations to be 

 carried on at the same time. 



11. The provision of the Apparatus needed for the Physical and Chemical 

 enquiries, which formed a special object of this Expedition, having been 

 placed by the Council of the Royal Society (Minutes for Feb. 18) under 

 the direction of a Committee " consisting of gentlemen practically con- 

 versant with the construction and working of such instruments," every 

 arrangement was made which was considered expedient by the very emi- 

 nent Authorities of which that Committee was composed. The general 

 conclusions at which they arrived are embodied in the Report (p. 401) 

 which they presented to the Council (Minutes of June 17th) ; but it 

 seems desirable here to record in somewhat greater detail the nature 



