A MUSEUM AFLOAT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 10

A MUSEUM AFLOAT

RESEARCH SHIP DANA SOLVING DEEP-SEA PROBLEMS VISIT TO .WELLINGTONTo see curious species of fish; that have been dredged up from the bottom of the sea, fish that have no names because they have never' been seen before; elaborate and intricate trawling devices for collecting specimens and samples from the ocean's bed; or the very latest wireless apparatus which in the twinkling of an eye will tell the observer the exact depth of water beneath him—to see these and many another scientific wonder will be possible when to-morrow or on Monday the Royal Danish research ship Dana puts into Wellington harbour for a few days' respite. ■ ■ . ' ■

The Dana is engaged upon a round-, tho-world scientific, expedition, exploring as she goes the beds of the oceans, and collecting specimens of the myriad forms of animal life which inhabit the waters. Hers is a mission akin to that:, of H.M.S: Challenger, a wooden corvette of 8306 tons and incidentally the first steamship to cross the Antarctic circle, which from 1572 to 1876 encircled the world, visiting New Zealand in 1874, and making a voyage without parallel-in the history of scientific research. The Challenger's report was issued in fifty volumes, specialists in every branch of science assisting in its production. The zoological .collections furnished sufficient material for many volumes, but deep-sea soundings and deposits, the chemical analysis of water, samples, the meteorological,, magnetic, geological, and botanical.observations were also fully worked out. • The Dana's voyage may not be so epochmaking as that of the Challenger, but it is nevertheless on the same lines and is of great importance to the 'scientific world. The vessel itself, one of 360, tons, outwardly bears the'familiar features of a trawler, having been built in England as a -mine-sweeper. That, however, was during the last days of the war, and the Dana, converted to peaceful purposes, passed into the hands of the Danish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. A metamorphosis of her interior was brought about, and now' she may be said to resemble a floating museum and'scientific workshop combined. Everything, of course, is on a miniature scale, but the cabins provide comfortable'quarters for the seven officers and the six scientists.

The expedition upon which the Dana' is engaged wasarranged jointly- by.the Carlsberg Foundation and the Danish Government's Committee . for the exploration'of the sea, and it set out under Eoyal patronage in June last year. The programme will not be completed until 1930. . ■.-;.... . ON BOARD THE VESSEL. , Although almost . daily '■ engaged in trawling operations,, there is nothing aboard the Dana to suggest the general mess and untidiness usually associated with trawling; she. is in. fact wonderfully spick and span. The ship is fitted most elaborately for...the. work which she is carrying.out:vthere-are thermometers which; will record the,temperature of the water at ■ any desired depth, and instruments which, operated from.the surface, will collect samples of sea-*vater for., analysis from any depth to thousands of fathoms.- Perhaps one of the most interesting of the many interesting bits of'sfeieritific apparatus on" board is one which is hew to this part of the 'world,'a Vvartihie invention; This is the wireless depthfinder, waves from which,, travelling downwards, rebound from the ocean I floor and are .caught by a receiver. Knowing the distance the waves travel per second, the timing of them followed by simple mathematical'" calculation is all' that is needed to ascertain • the depth of the .water.. Five .thousand fathoms, off the Kermadecs, <is the greatest depth so far found by the Dana, but there are greater depths to be found in places where the Dana has yet to go. Extraordinary fish, many with phosphorescentl apparatus, useful in the darkness of/great ocean depths'to attract those of the opposite sex, and fish which spend their lives as passengers ("suckers") on bigger members of the piscine tribes, these and many another quaint specimens are returning to Denmark in spirits instead of their native element, and many new and previously unknown species' of marine life having been discovered by the scientists on the Dan*-' The Dana has already acquired a wonderful museum, and before she finishes her long.voyage, for she has Australian and Eastern waters still to investigate, this museum ■ will be. greatly enlarged. Whilst in New 2fealand ■ waters,! fish foods are being made the subject of special study. The Dana goes out well beyond the 1000 fathom line and gradually works towards the shallower water, studying as she goes the ocean's bed and the marine life in the water. Her progress is naturally slow, and it is impossible to adhere rigidly to any . set time-table, for rough weather impedes all investigations and prevents trawling. Having already examined the waters to the east of New Zealand, the Dana, after staying a few days in Wellington, will carry out a-similar programme in the seas to the west. ■ : .

.EXPEDITION'S PERSONNEL. This unique little, vessel is officered by the Boyal Danish Navy.; The leader of the expedition is Dr. Johannes Schmidt, director of the Carlsberg Laboratory, Copenhagen. He had to return to Denmark half-way through the Dana's voyage, but came out again and got into touch with the Dana while she was in Auckland. He, however, has' spent the last'week or two on land, and has been in Wellington-'during the past few days. Dr. Schmidt is primarily interested in studying the'habits of eels, and has done much towards elucidating the baffling problems connected with their migrations. In his work in New Zealand waters Dr. Schmidt has had the co-operation of Mr. A. E. Hefford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, who.has been in close contact'with the expedition since its arrival. Dr. P. Jespersen is the zoologist of the party, and is. second, in command. Dr. N. C. Andersen.' is surgeon and scientific assistant, the other scientists being Mr. A. Brown (zoologist), Mr. H.Thomsen (hydrographer), and Mr. E. Nielsen (botanist). Commanding the crew, of 24 is Captain H. Chris--.tensen. ' , :