EEPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA DEPOSITS. 
11 
deposits.^ The specimen of a deposit brought up at any particular spot may be very 
small, yet when studied vdth the light thrown on the subject at other stations where a 
large quantity was procured by the dredge or trawl in addition to that taken in the 
sounding tube, a very correct idea of the nature of 
a deposit can be formed even from the examination 
of such a small sample. 
As soon as a specimen of a deep-sea deposit 
was procured, it was examined on board by Mr. 
Murray, and notes of the quantity, colour, and the 
general physical characters were entered in a 
journal. A small quantity of the deposit was then 
shaken up in pure sea water and separated by 
three decantations, each of which w^as examined 
in the wet and dry state by the microscope ; ^ the 
organisms, minerals, and other substances present 
were then noted so far as possible. The carbonate 
of lime in the specimen was subsequently removed 
by dilute hydrochloric acid and the residue ex- 
amined with the microscope. In order to examine 
specimens of the deposit and the various decan- 
tations in the dry state, it was found to be a great 
saving of time to saturate these with spirit of wine 
and then burn this off. The appearance of the 
manganese nodules, teeth, bones, and other materials were also carefuUy noted on being 
taken from the dredge. Mr. Murray’s notes, as well as the large number of specimens 
brought home with so much care, were all available in the more detailed examination 
which has since been carried on at home during the past fourteen years. 
h. Methods adopted for the Study and Description op the Deposits in the 
Laboratory after the Return of the Expedition. 
In the preceding section the various contrivances for raising specimens of marine 
deposits from the bottom of the sea, together with the methods employed in 
^ For an account of more recent modificationB in deep-sea apparatus, see Alexander Agassiz, Three Cruises of the 
United States Steamer ‘Blake,’ Boston and New York, 1888; Sigshee, Deep-Sea Sounding and Dredging, Washington, 
1880 ; Prince Albert de Monaco, Recherche des Animaux Marins, Compte-Rendu des Sc4ances du Congrfes International 
de Zoologie, p. 133, Paris, 1889 ; Thoulet, Oc4anographie (Statique), Paris, 1890. 
* The microscopes used most frequently by Mr. Murray were a Ross binocular with low powers and a Hartnack with 
high powers ; these were firmly clasped to a small table, fixed securely into the deck of the ship. The seat again was 
firmly fixed between this table and the wall of the cabin. By this arrangement he could work with advantage even 
in rough weather when the motion of the ship was considerable. 
