Deep-sea Soundings Research Articles

I.—The Geological Bearings of Recent Deep-Sea Soundings

Of the immense value of the recent deep-sea soundings there can be no doubt, but whether geologists will side with Dr. Carpenter in the deductions he has attempted to draw from these explorations seems to me a matter of considerable doubt: and I propose to discuss here several difficulties that have occurred to myself on this head. I shall take as my text Dr. Carpenter's last exposition of his views in a letter to Nature of Oct. 27th.

The Deep-Sea Soundings and Geology

SOME little time ago an eminent geologist, Professor Gümbel of Munich, applied to Sir Roderick Murchison for specimens of the Deep-sea Soundings which have lately been the subject of so much discussion. Sir Roderick mentioned Dr. Gümbel's wish to me, and I immediately sent him a small quantity of North Atlantic mud from 2,350 fathoms, which had been preserved in spirit. The following translation of a letter, dated April 18th, 1870, with which Dr. Gümbel has favoured me, and which embodies the result of his researches hitherto, will, I am sure, be read with the greatest interest by geologists and biologists. I may mention that I long since found coccoliths in the num-mulitic limestone of Egypt.

VI. On some foraminifera from the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, including Davis Straits and Baffin's Bay

1. From Baffin’s Bay, between 76° 30' and 74° 45' North Latitude. These specimens are derived from seven deep-sea soundings made during one of the Arctic Expeditions under Sir Edward Parry. These soundings were confided to us by Professor Huxley, of the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street, to which Institution they had been given in April 1853 by Mr. J. W. Lowry, who received them of Mr. Fisher, Assistant-Surgeon in the Expedition alluded to. The Foraminifera obtained by us from these soundings are tabulated in Tables I., IV., and VII. This material from the “Arctic Province” of Naturalists is but scanty. None of the Foraminifera here obtained are numerous, except Polystomella striatopunctata , Nonionina Scwpha , Truncatulina lobatu , and Cassidulina lœvigata ; the first two of which are at home in Arctic waters : and none have attained here a large size except lituolœ . The material from 150 fathoms yielded these relatively large and numerous specimens.

2. An account of a deep-sea sounding in 7706 fathoms, in 36° 49' south latitude, and 37° 6' west longitude

This sounding was obtained on a calm day, October 30, 1852, in the course of the passage of H. M. ship Herald, from Rio de Janeiro to the Cape of Good Hope. The sounding-line was 1/10 th of an inch in diameter, laid into one length, and weighing, when dry, lib . for every hundred fathoms. Captain Denham received from Commodore McKeever of the United States Navy, commanding the Congress Frigate, a present of 15,000 fathoms of this line, 10,000 fathoms on one reel, and 5000 on another; and considers it to have been admirably adapted for the purpose for which it was made and to which it was applied. The plummet weighed 91bs., and was 11­·5 inches in length, and 1·7 inch in diameter. When 7706 fathoms had run off the reel the sea-bottom was reached.