414 
Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
17 samples come from depths less than 500 fathoms. 
22 ,, „ between 500 and 1000 fathoms. 
4 
2 
7 
45 
19 
116 
a 
„ 1000 „ 1500 „ 
„ 1500 „ 2000 
„ 2000 „ 2500 
„ 2500 „ 3000 „ 
greater than 3000 fathoms. 
In the majority of cases the samples are small, especially from 
very deep water, where, however, the available material shows 
that the bottom is covered by Red Clay extremely uniform in 
character and composition ; some of the samples weighed from a 
half to one ounce, and in a few cases even more. All the samples, 
large and small, were carefully examined, and in nearly every 
case the type of deposit was determined. In the case of large 
samples the percentage of carbonate of lime was determined by 
chemical analysis, and in other cases it was estimated by inspec- 
tion. Typical examples, where there was sufficient material, have 
been fully described, and the descriptions will be found in the 
sequel. 
Before proceeding to consider the general character of the 
bottom, we may point out that this admirable series of soundings 
has considerably increased our knowledge of the depth of the sea 
in this part of the world. The line of deep soundings has altered 
the outlines and increased the extent of the area over 3000 
fathoms (called Hares Deep on the bathymetrical charts published 
in the ‘ Summary of Results,’ forming the final two volumes of the 
Challenger Reports, 1895), which now approaches much closer to 
the coast of Turk’s Islands. The area over 2000 fathoms is also 
extended towards the northern entrance of the Windward Channel, 
between Caicos Bank and Haiti. The present state of our know- 
ledge of the depths and deposits in this region of the ocean is shown 
on the accompanying map. 
The deposit samples show that in shallow water close to the 
shore of Jamaica the bottom is covered by Blue Mud, containing 
20 or 25 per cent, of carbonate of lime. Off the eastern point of 
Jamaica the deposit passes into Pteropod Ooze, containing 60 to 80> 
