430 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
of the deep water of the Atlantic than the Atlantic has in reducing 
that of the Mediterranean. The observations made on hoard the 
“Dacia” quite hear out this view. 
The observations of bottom temperature made by the “Challenger” 
in the north-eastern part of the Atlantic, and by the “ Dacia ” in 
this restricted part, show a higher temperature and density of the 
water at great depths than is found to exist in any other part of the 
ocean. Although other causes are at work to produce this, it cannot 
be doubted that the warm and dense overflow of the Mediterranean 
has its share in its production, especially in its immediate neighbour- 
hood. 
From the Straits of Gibraltar a westerly course was steered for 
about 150 miles, then a south-easterly one until the African coast 
was sighted, when the course was again altered to a westerly one. 
It was the intention to have taken soundings and other observations 
along this line for a distance of 180 miles. On continuing the line 
representing the course on the chart, it was found to cut the line of 
soundings taken by the steamship “ Seine ” between Lisbon and 
Madeira close to a point where the bottom seemed to rise from a 
depth of 2400 fathoms to 1800 fathoms. 
This line of soundings was run previous to the laying of the cable 
from Lisbon to Madeira by the s.s. “Seine.” The soundings were 
taken at distances of about 25 miles apart, and showed a tolerably 
level bottom with an average depth of rather over 2000 fathoms. 
Slight unevennesses had been observed, such as two successive 
soundings differing by 300 fathoms, but it never occurred to any 
one to suppose that they indicated anything that could interfere 
with the laying of the cable or its security when laid; and accord- 
ingly the cable was laid over the line sounded. During the process, 
and when the ship was passing over one of the unevennesses indi- 
cated, where the depth seemed to fall from 2400 fathoms to 1967 
fathoms, and to increase again to 2332 fathoms, the cable suddenly 
parted ; and, on making a sounding, a depth of one hundred fathoms 
was found in place of 2000 expected. The sudden shoaling of the 
water had naturally snapped the cable. No blame could be attached 
to those in charge of the work, because the soundings, on which 
they based their calculations, were considered sufficiently close, and 
were supposed to give quite sufficient guarantee of a suitable bottom. 
