42 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
soon as the watch has been mustered, the bustle and 
activity begin, lasting throughout the day and even 
to the hour when night reminds one of sleep. Pumps 
are manned, and water is splashed over decks in all 
directions ; and, although apparently unnecessary at 
times, yet it is absolutely essential to the preservation 
of the health and comfort of those on board. By six 
o’clock the washing is nearly finished, when all ham- 
mocks are piped up and stowed ; it is now time for 
breakfast, consisting of cocoa and biscuit. The hands 
dress in the rig of the day, and all preparations are 
made for sounding and dredging. Sails are furled, 
and steam is ready, for it is essential to keep the 
vessel’s head on to the sea during these operations. 
Before commencing, however, an account of how the 
soundings and dredgings are obtained, it might be as* 
well to specify the sort of information that is required 
from us. Formerly the actual depth of the ocean 
only was required, and in extreme depths it was con- 
sidered a great feat to be able to bring up a specimen 
of the bottom. Our requirements and means of ob- 
taining information have so rapidly advanced that we 
not only obtain the sounding and bring up specimens, 
but we also ascertain the temperature of the sea 
at every 100 fathoms, from the surface to the bottom, 
and at the same time bring up samples of the deep 
water. 
It has been found that in all deep soundings it is 
absolutely necessary to use steam power. No trust- 
