430 



Messrs. Carpenter, Jeffreys, and Thomson [Nov. 18, 



in the dredge. The dredge was sent down again at 3 p.m., and was brought 

 up at 11 p.m., with upwards of 200 cwt. of ooze. — We got from this haul 

 a new species of Pleurotoma and one of Dentalium, Scrobicularia nitida, 

 Dacrydium vitreum, Ophiocantha spinulosa, and Ophiocten Kroyeri, with 

 a few Crustaceans and many Foraminifera. 



52. In both of these last deep dredgings the dredge brought up a large 

 number of extremely beautiful Polycystina, and some forms apparently 

 intermediate between Polycystina and Sponges, which will be described 

 shortly. These organisms did not seem to be brought from the bottom, 

 but appeared to be sifted into the dredge on its way up. They were as 

 numerous adhering to the outside of the dredging-bag, as within it. During 

 the soundings taken near this locality quite a shower of several beautiful 

 species of the Polycystina andAcanthometrina fell upon the chart-room sky- 

 light from the whole length of the sounding-line while it was being hauled in. 



53. Dredging in such deep water was very trying. Each operation occu- 

 pied seven or eight hours ; and during the whole of that time it demanded 

 and received the most anxious attention on the part of the Commander, who 

 stood with his hand on the pulse of the Accumulator, ready at any moment, 

 by a turn of the paddles, to ease any undue strain. The men, stimulated 

 and encouraged by the cordial interest taken by their officers in our opera- 

 tions, worked willingly and well ; but the labour of taking upwards of three 

 miles of rope, coming up with a heavy strain from the surging- drum of the 

 engine, and coiling it upon the " Aunt Sallies," was very severe. The rope 

 itself looked frayed and strained, as if it could not be trusted to stand this 

 extraordinary ordeal much longer. The question of the distribution of 

 Life and the condition of the bottom had been solved ; and the animals 

 brought up, though of surprising interest, were few in number. On 

 the morning of Saturday the 24th we therefore determined to cease 

 dredging for the present, and to devote the day to an investigation which 

 we regarded as at least equal in importance, — the determination of a 

 series of Temperatures at intervals of 259 fathoms from the bottom to the 

 surface. The following is a Table of the mean results of this series of 

 observations (Station 38). The instruments used were the two Miller- 

 Casella thermometers which were employed in all the temperature-sound- 

 ings throughout the summer. The depth was 2090 fathoms. 



Surface-temperature 64° F. = 17*08 C. 0 0 



2C0 fathoms 50*5 „ 10*28, less than surface .. 13*5 F. = 7*5 C. 



500 „ 47-8 „ 8*8, „ 250fath. 2*7 „ 1'5 



750 „ 41-3 „ 5*17, „ 500 „ 6*5 „ 3*G 



1000 „ 38*3 „ 3*5, „ 750 „ 3*0 „ 1*7 



1250 „ 37*7 „ 3*17, „ 1000 „ 0*6 „ 0-3 



1500 „ 37*2 „ 2*9, „ 1250 „ 0*5 „ 0*3 



1750 „ 30*7 „ 2*61, „ 1500 „ 0*5 „ 0*3 



2090 „ 3G*3 „ 2*4, „ 1750 „ 0*4 „ 0*2 



