Wonders of the Sea.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1830, 10 May 1886, Page 3

Wonders of the Sea.

The sea occupies three-fifths of the surface of the earth. At the depth of about 3500 feet, waves are not felt. The temperature is the same, varying only a trifle from the ice of the pole to the burning sun of the equator. A mile down, the water has a pressure of over a ton to the square inch. II a box 6ft deep were filled with sea water end’allowed! to evaporate under the sun. there would be aiafol salt left on the bottom. Taking the average depth of the ocean to tie three miles, there would be a layer of pure salt noft thick 00 the bed of the Atlantic. The water is colder at the bottom than at the surface. la the many bays on the coast ot Norway, the water otten freezes at the bottom before it does above. Waves are very deceptive. To look at them in a storm, one would think the water travelled. The water stays in the same place,but the motion goes on. Sometimes in storms these waves are 40ft high, and fifty miUs an hour—more than twice as fast as the swiftest steamer. The distance from valley to valley is generally fifteen times the height, hence a wave five feet high will extend over 75ft of water. The force of (be sea dashing on Bell Rock is said to be seventeen tons tor each square yard. Evaporation is a wonderful power in drawing the water from the sea. Every year a layer of the entire sea 14ft is taken up into the clouds. The winds bear their burden into the land, and the water comes down in rain upon the fields, to flow back at last through nvfers. The depth of the sea presents an interesting problem. If the Atlantic were low•ved 6564 ft. the distance from shore to shore would be half as great, or 1500 miles. If towered a little more tham three three miles say iqjbSoft. there would be a road ofdrv land from Newfoundland to Ireland. Thit is the pla’U on which the great Atlantic cables were laid'. The Mediterranean is comparatively shal’ow A drying up of 66 ft would leave three different seas, and > fnca would be joined with Italy The Briti-di Channel is more like a pond, which accounts for it choppy waves. It has been found difficult to get correct aoending of the Atlantic. A midshipman of the navy overeame the difficulty, and shot weighing 301b carries down the line. A hole is tared through the sinker, through which a rod of iron is passed, moving easily back and forth, (n the end of the bar a cup is dug out. and the inside coated with lard. The bar is made fast to the line, and a sling holds the shot on. When the bar, which ex tends below the ball, touches the earth, the ■liac unhooks and the shot slides off. The lard in tho end of the bar bolds some of the •and at whatever may be on the bottom, and a drop shuts over the cup to keep the water from washiag the send oat, Wbea the ground is touched, e shock is felt as if u electric <turnathadpoaaed through the lino.