8 
CRUISE OF H.M.8. CHALLENGER. 
purpose of proceeding upon a voyage of scientific 
discovery and deep-sea exploration in the Atlantic, 
Indian, and Pacific Oceans, descending into the 
Southern or Antarctic Ocean as far as the ice would 
permit. For some months previous to the date of 
her commission she had been in the hands of the 
dockyard officials, undergoing great changes both 
in equipment and internal accommodation, so as to 
fit her with every possible means for furthering the 
great work in hand. For the use of the scientific 
staff, of which Professor Wyville Thomson was the 
director, there was built an ample and compact 
work-room, containing numerous drawers and recep- 
tacles fitted with bottles and jars for holding spe- 
cimens of organic ocean life, and a well-stocked 
library of professional books in various languages. 
Here also were provided numerous instruments for 
dissection and microscopic observation, long tubes for 
preserving rare specimens, harpoons, and many in- 
genious devices for entrapping and securing larger 
game than the dredge can possibly furnish. 
On the opposite side of the deck, and somewhat 
farther forward, was placed the chemical laboratory 
for the purpose of analysing and testing the sea- 
water obtained from the different depths : here were 
ranged retorts, stills, tubes of all sizes, hydrometers, 
thermometers, blow-pipes — in fact, all the usual 
paraphernalia found in laboratories ; chemicals in 
drawers, and jars in racks ; all secured from accident 
