Exploring Ocean Depths

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 542, 20 December 1928, Page 8

Exploring Ocean Depths

VISIT OF THE DANA Work of Danish Scientists STRANGE AND HIDEOUS CREATURES FOUND STRANGE fish from the uttermost depths of the ocean . , - An instrument which accurately measures the depth of the ocean by sound while the vessel is going at full speed . . . Thousands of small bottles and tubes, each carefully labelled and containing specimens of fish and deep sea life from all parts of the world . . .

THESE are but a few of the interesting things to be seen on the Danish scientific ship Dana, which arrived in Auckland yesterday from the South Seas. . . , _ The Dana herself is interesting. Originally she was a British minesweeper, and did duty in the N orth Sea during the war. Later she was purchased by the Danish Government for scientific research work. Tliis present trip, which began in June of this year, will end at Copenhagen in 1930. Already calls have been made at England, Spain, Portugal, Casablanca, Malaga, Gibraltar, Madiera, Martinique (West Indies), Panama, The Marquesas, Tahiti, Raratonga, Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia and New Zealand. The following places have yet to be visited: Australia, New Caledonia (second time), islands of the East Indies, Java, Japan, China, Singapore, India, Madagascar, through the Suez Canal and back to Denmark. Since 1 leaving Copenhagen the Dana has encountered only two days of bad weather, and that was in the North Sea on the first two days of her long voyage. SCIENTIFIC TOUR The world tour of the Dana is purely scientific and is financed by the Carlsberg Foundation, a Danish fund which was established for the furtherance of scientific investigation, and the Danish Government. An array of large nets, scientific instruments and a well-equipped laboratory make a keen contrast with the uniforms of the ship’s officers, some of whom are on loan from the Danish navy. In the mess and lounge rooms,

all most comfortably furnished, are portraits of the King and Queen of Denmark, and the Prime Minister, reproductions of famous paintings and some exquisite pieces of pottery. But the laboratory is the most fascinating part of the Dana. Here, each in its own bottle, are the specimens of fish which have been netted from the depths of the ocean. Bv far the rarest specimen is a small deep-sea fish known as the Edriolychnus Schmidt. named after the leader of the expedition. Professor Johannes Schmidt, by the Director of the British Museum. Only four specimens of this queer fis# are known and all have been caught by the Dana. The female is a globular looking creature with a feathery kind of lamp protruding from the head. The male is a tiny parasite. Another deepwater fish, which carries its own illumination, is the Argyro pelecus. Then there is a little-known mollusc, the shells of which have been found, but few of the living have ever been seen. Queer crimson shrimps, tiny, fish like miniature whitebait, hideouslooking cuttle-fish, and myriads of others have all been bottled and preserved ready to send back to Copenhagen. EXCITING HAULS Giant nets of different mesh are dragged for hours at various depths. There is always considerable excitement when a catch is made, one of the scientists said yesterday. Only the rare specimens are kept—the other fish are returned to the sea. An instrument for guaging the depth of the ocean is being used for the first time in New Zealand. Radio

waves are sent out through three centres in the bottom of the ship. These waves travel at a certain known rate a second. The time the waves take to reach the bottom and return to the instrument enables the distance to be measured quite accurately. The deepest measurement so far reached has been 5,100 fathoms. An up-to-date wireless plant is carried on the vessel, and the operators talk with Copenhagen three nights a week. Other work done by the scientists on the Dana is to investigate ocean water and currents at various depths in different parts of the world. The density, temperature, currents and mineral composition are all tested and chronicled. A botanist is collecting plant and bird specimens from the countries and islands visited. DANISH GREETING As the Dana neared the Central Wharf yesterday afternoon the ship received" a Danish welcome from Mrs. Schmidt, wife of Professor Schmidt. She waved a branch of beech —the national tree of Denmark. All the officers on the vessel speak excellent English, which is taught in all Danish schools, and many of them also speak German and French. There are 25 officers, scientists and crew on the Dana. Professor Schmidt will rejoin the vessel at Auckland. The other officers and scientists are Captain H. C. Christensen, in command of the Dana: Mr. S. B. V. J. Greve, chief mate; Mr. C. Reis, second mate: Air. P. V. Vogt, chief engineer; Dr. N. C. Andersen, physician; Dr. P. Jespersen, scientific leader; Air. A. F. Bruun, zoologist; Air. E. Nielsen, botanist, and Air. H. Thomson, hydrograph er. On arrival at Auckland yesterday afternoon the ship was met by Mr. S. P. Anderson, Vice-Consul for Denmark, Air. D. Ardell, representing the Internal Affairs Department, and Air. A. E. Hefford, Inspector of Fisheries.