Notes from the “Challenger”

Abstract

IV. ON Saturday, the 15th of March, before going into the harbour of St. Thomas, a sounding was taken in 450 fathoms off the island of Sombrero. The bottom brought up by the sounding machine was globigerina mud largely mixed with broken shells, chiefly those of pteropods. The dredge was put over early, and veered to 1000 fathoms. At noon it was hauled up half filled with calcareous ooze. It was again sent down, and brought up early in the afternoon with a like freight. These dredgings, which we did not regard as entering into the regular work of the sections, but which were only undertaken to give us a general idea of the deep-water fauna of the West Indian province, may be taken in connection with one or two hauls taken with the same object and under the same circumstances, in waters of nearly equal depth on the 25th of March, after leaving St Thomas. The careful examination of this zone, between 300 and 1,200 fathoms among the West Indian Islands, will undoubtedly add enormously to zoological knowledge. The objects of the present expedition do not, of course, include a detailed investigation of this kind, which must be done quietly in a small steamer, by some one on the spot, and will require the patient work of several years. Even the few hauls of the dredge which we had it in our power to make, brought to light a number of new and highly interesting forms, representing nearly all the invertebrate groups. A thorough investigation of the belt must yield a wonderful harvest.