76 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER 
ho\' an increasing knowledge of marine zoology. Up to the end of last century the 
little that was known about the inhabitants of the lower zones of the sea seems 
to have been derived from a few specimens collected on the shore after tempests, 
«>r to captures made by chance on sounding or fishing lines, or brought up by 
di *dg. - and nets while fishing for oysters and mussels. In 1799, Otto Friedrich 
Muller introduced the naturalist’s dredge, a modification of that used by Marsili and 
Donati in 1750, 1 for investigating the fauna of the bottom of the sea. 2 
Si lou* i; -- Sir John Ross, in his voyage to Baffin’s Bay 3 in 1817-1818, mentions four deep-sea 
soundings which may be considered historical. The first sounding was made 2 miles 
from the coast to a depth of 2700 feet, and brought up gravel and two small living 
Crustaceans (Gammarus) ; the second, in 3900 feet of water and 18 miles from the 
coast, brought up pebbles and brown clay with Serpulse , Corallines, and Crustaceans ; the 
third, in 6000 feet and 6 miles from the coast, brought up black mud with a few worms ; 
ii.d in the fourth sounding, in 6300 feet, he obtained a starfish attached to the line below 
the depth of 2400 feet. Not only are these results worthy of attention, but also the 
method < mployed in obtaining them. Ross used an apparatus of his own invention, 
manufactured by the blacksmith on board his vessel, which he called a “deep-sea clamm.” 4 
By m nns of this ingenious instrument he succeeded not only in taking deep soundings, 
hut In brought up a much larger quantity of the deposit from the bottom of the sea than 
he could have done with the sounding lead; thus in Baffin’s Bay, lat. 72 23' N., long. 
73' 07' \V., 1 brought up from a depth of 1050 fathoms several pounds of greenish mud. 5 
These observations of Ross opened a new era in submarine soundings, and proved for 
the first time that organisms existed at great depths. The truth was not recognised at 
once, and the observations of the celebrated navigator had not at that time sufficient 
influence to overcome the opinion generally current that the sea was uninhabited at 
depths approaching 1000 fathoms ; this was the first example of animals brought up from 
such depths. Dr. Carpenter has given the most precise details on this point, received 
from General Sir Edward Sabine, who was a member of Sir John Ross’ expedition: — 
“ The ship sounded in 1000 fathoms, mud, between 1 and 2 miles off shore (lat. 73° 37' N., 
long. 75 25' W.) , a magnificent Aslerias caput-medusa ?, was entangled by the line and 
brought up with very little damage. The mud was soft and greenish, and contained 
K|>< cimens of Lumbricus tubicola. So far my written journal, but I can add, from a very 
distinct recollection, that the heavy deep-sea weight had sunk, drawing the line with it, 
-< > rml feet into the very soft greenish mud, which still adhered to the line when brought 
1 See unit, page 68. 
* < Narr. I'!. all. Exp., vol. j. p. xxxv. ; and Thomson, Depths of the Sea, p. 237, London, 1874. 
’ Row>, A Voy%;<! of Discovery for the Purpose of Exploring Baffin’s Bay, vol. i. p. 178, and App., p. lxxxv., London, 
1819. 
* Yi.v i of Discovery n Hi* Majesty - Ships “ Isabella” and “Alexander,” App. p. cxxxv., London, 1819. 
* See Wallich, North Atlantic Sea bed, pp. 78, 79, London, 1862. 
