HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 22

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY.

THE EAST COAST CURRENT. CITY OF NEW YORK AVAILABLE. The proposal, which was outlined at the meeting of the Otago Institute last week to utilise the Byrd Expedition barque City of New York for a . hydrographic cruise on the coast of New Zealand has now advanced a considerable stage. Tho Government agreed to . the establishment of a to consider the matter, and, at the request of the Minister of Marine, Mr Hcfford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, came to Dunedin from Wellington to assist the committee, consisting of Mr G, M. Thomson, M.L.C. (chairman), Mr Ansell, M.P., Captain M‘Donald, Mr Hefford, and Professors Benham and Malcolm, this week met Captain Captain Melville, of the City of New York, and Lieutenant Shropshire, hydrographer of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, to consider the offer of Captain Melville to undertake,‘ subject to the approval of Commander Byrd, hydrographic work for > he New Zealand Government. The committee recommended that this courteous offer be accepted. It is proposed that the vessel should be employed from June 1 ‘o, August 31 in making an east to west survey at intervals of 50 miles, starting from Stewart Island to Banks Peninsula, and extending as far easterly as the conditions suggested make desirable. The main object of this survey will be to ascertain -the strength, direction, and hydrographic character of the current which flows up the east coast of the South Island, and to note to what extent it is influenced by other currents, and now far it undergoes changes further north. The ’ movements and migrations of fish and of the plankton on which fish primarily depend for food appear to bo largely influenced by the action and character of these ocean currents. This survey would include the following branches: (a) Soundings by sonic depthfinder at stated intervals; (b) tempera ture readings at surface and at various depths; (c) collection of water samplesfor estimation of. salinity and phosphates from the surface to the bottom; (d) collection of plankton at various depths; (e) strength and direction of currents at various depths; aed (f) nature of the sea bottom. The results of such a survey will not be of immediate value, bat for the development and regulation of the fisheries of this country, two lines of research must be undertaken. There is, first, the collection of fishery statistics, without which accurate legislation is impossible. This collection the department is endeavouring to obtain, but its staffing docs not admit of much progress. The second is to accumulate information on the hydrographic conditions. This is a work of immense ultimate importance, and it is felt that in the circumstances tho offer of the Gitv of New York to undertake a small portion of it should be accepted. The present opportunity is recommended from an economical point of view; but als" as it represents a gesture of international goodwill, expressive of Ihe mutual esteem between the dominions and the United States.