Ocean Depths to be Probed by Danish Expedition

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1948, Page 5

Ocean Depths to be Probed by Danish Expedition

[N.Z.P.A. Reuter Cable]. COPENHAGEN, By Airmail.. A Danish scientific expedition is to leave Copenhagen in June, 1949, in a specially fitted ship on a twoyear voyage around the world to find out what life, if any, exists at ocean depths between 18,000 feet and 30,000 feet. Working at depths lower than Mt. Everest is high, and never before explored by man, the expedition hopes to find life never before seen by human eye. It will work in all the oceans and seas of the world, including the Sargossa, Caribbean and the Fnci/ic The team of 12 scientists headed by Dr. A. F. Brun ,of the Damsn Zoological Museum will represent all interested branches of science. Dr. Brun took part in a somewhat similar expedition in the early 1930’s when considerable data was collected on the ocean travel of eels. The vessel will be supplied by tne Danish Navy. Main requirements' of the vessel will be an ability to house 30,000 feet of steel wire rope weighing 22 tons. At the end uf this wire will be fitted nets, trawls, grabs and other instruments. Played out to its full length, it will take two days to wind aboard again. . Scientists stress that if life exists at 30,000 feet whatever form it takes will have to be brought back to the surface slowly in order to accommodate it to the decreasing nressure. Interest will be considerable m what is held at the end of the wire when the last few feet are wound on board. The British Museum has offered £lOOO for the first specimen of a Latimeria, a fish previously believed to have been extinct for millions of years, but discovered a -ew years ago in the net of a fishing vessel off the Cape of Good Hope.

The discovery of the fish, hitherto known only as a fossil, was a scientific sensation at the time. Rough handling in the fishing boat made scientific observation difficult. But it is hoped that this expedition may bring another one of this species to the surface.

Just what may come up from the depths where the gloom is unrelieved by even a glimmer of sunlight, no scientist is prepared to forecast. It is not expected, however, . that any “sea monster” will emerge. The monev for the expedition has been found by Government-sponsored “black marketeering”—which incidentally, dealt the real black market a blow from which it has never recovered.

Pians for the voyage were first made in 1941 when the Nazis were occupying Denmark. On paper, everything was ready by 1943. Two things stopped the actual sailing. One was the end of the war and the other the shortage of money. As soon as Denmark was liberated the organisers approached the Danish Government for permission to import cigarettes from England and America and to sell them openly in tobacconists shops, above the counter at the then black market rate of Kr. 5 tllve shillings) for a packet of 20. The Government agreed, and 8 000,000 English and American cigarettes were imoprted. Over 150,000 went to the fund. Now, if the Government agrees, the expedition plans to import rice and sell it in the same way. The tradition Danish Christmas dish, rice has been unobtainable here and it is hoped that the expedition will have some £150,000 behind it when i sets out.