DEEP-SEA RESEARCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20114, 27 November 1928, Page 11

DEEP-SEA RESEARCH.

DANISH SHIP'S WORLD TOUR. THE ITINERARY AND FEATURES. [KHOM on: OWN COPRKSPn.NDF.NT.I SUVA. Xov. •>:. The Danish deep sea research ship, tho Daria, arrived hero last week. She is on a fwo-war round-the-world voyage, exploring the life, vegetation and conditions of the deep sea. Leaving Copenhagen on June 5 this year, she has visited the Mediterranean, Madeira, Martinique, Panama, the Marquesas, Raratonga and Apia.

The Dana is one of the gallant little fleet of trawler 'mine sweepers which did so much for the protection of Great Britain during the war. The Dana herself never raw active service, tho Ann istico being signed before, she had completed fitting out. She was then sold to the Danish Government. Tho ship, of 340 tons, is commanded by Captain H. Christensen. Party of Six Scientists. The leader of the expedition is the well-known scientist. Professor Schmidt, director of the Karl-berg Laboratory. He is not at present on hoard, having been recalled from Madeira. He is expected to rejoin the ship, however, on her arrival at Auckland, where the expedition expects to spend Christmas. Professor Schmidt's second in command, Dr. Ponl Jespersen. D.Sc., a zoologist, is at present leader of the, expedition. He has with him a party of four Danish scientists: Dr. N. C. Andersen, surgeon, scientific assistant: Mr. A. Brnun, M.Sc., zoologist; Mr. H. Thomson, M.Sc., hydrographer; and Mr. K. Nielsen, M.Sc., botanist.

Tho ship has been sent out under the auspices of tho Carlsbad Foundation in cooperation with tho Danish Government. The expedition is entirely scientific and is devoted to the study of the deep sea both from a biological and hydrogrnphic.il point of view. Everything in the sea that, they come across is being given the closest attention and many books of data have been filled for reference on their return to Copenhagen. Many jars, too, have already been filled with specimens of all kinds of dwellers of tho deep. An elaborate laboratory has been fitted out on board in which the preservation

work is t'one. For the actual catching of the specimens there is a host of different kinds of plant, including particularly nets small enough in mesli fo collect the most .minute spawn and big enough to handle the biggest, fish. For this work the trawler di'sign of tho vessel is most convenient. In addition to the laboratory very comfortable quarters have been filled out for the scientists and their parly. A Feature o! the Cruise. One of the outstanding features of Iho cruise is that up till tho last fortnight the expedition has been in nightly communication by wireless with the Danish Government ever since it left Denmark. At present slight trouble is being experienced with the dynamo, but it is hoped that this will he remedied in Suva. The Dana sends out her messages on a 30-metre wave while tho Government short wave station, in Denmark, in reply, sends on a 37 metre wave. Full details of the experiments and discoveries have been sent to Denmark every night. Such a wonderful wireless record has probably never been equalled. Among many different kinds of plant there is nothing more interesting than the marvellous sounding machine, the latest without exception. By means of it soundings may he taken without the pace of the ship being slackened and without any instrument being lowered overboard. The instrument is operated by the echoes of tho sound of the ship reverberating from the bottom of the se;i. So exact have the soundings taken been found to bo that no oilier instrument is ever used. Noumea will he tho next port of call and thence the, ship will go to Auckland and Wellington, thence to Australia, Japan and China, through the Straits, to South Africa, up the east coast through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, and thence home.