10 Pi ' oceedings of Poyal Society of Edinburgh . [dec. 6, 
and expressed the hope that these surveys would be undertaken 
at an early date, and, at all events, before the completion of the 
Ordnance Survey of the country. The reply from the Treasury 
was that these surveys could not be sanctioned, because they did 
not come within the function of the Board of Admiralty or of the 
survey department of the Office of Works. This matter was subse- 
quently brought up in Parliament by Lord Balfour of Burleigh, but 
no steps seem to have been taken to carry out the survey. It may 
be hoped that this matter will not be allowed to drop. Quite 
recently soundings of 175 and 180 fathoms have been obtained in 
Loch Morar. This is the greatest depth that has hitherto been 
found on the plateau on which the British Islands are situated ; to 
get depths equal to this we must go towards the deep gut off the 
coasts of Norway, or beyond the 100-fathom line off the coasts of 
Ireland. There are also geological and biological problems of great 
interest connected with the depths of these lochs. 
Should these surveys not be undertaken a very important part of 
the survey of the United Kingdom will be left untouched ; for it 
cannot be denied that it is at least as important — sometimes much 
more important — to know the depth of a lake than to know the height 
of an adjoining mountain. It would be a matter for great regret if 
the admirable surveys, which are now drawing to a close, and which 
reflect so much credit on the officers who conducted them, and 
honour on the scientific reputation of the country generally, should 
be lowered in value by the great omission here pointed out. 
The Council has recently had before it the subject of Antarctic 
exploration, and has drawn up and printed a number of suggestions 
as to the investigations which should be undertaken or attempted 
in the event of such an expedition being fitted out. There can be 
little doubt that a thorough exploration of these unknown regions 
would enrich almost every branch of science with valuable observa- 
tions ; the Antarctic appears to exert a controlling influence on the 
atmospheric and oceanic circulation and magnetism of the globe, and 
presents many interesting physical, geological, and zoological problems. 
No steam vessel, protected for ice, has ever penetrated these seas, 
and there are good reasons for believing that such vessels would be 
able to find a place for wintering close to the land of the Antarctic 
