Deep-Sea Sounding (Classic Reprint)

Albert Smith Barker

ISBN 10: 1332118984 / ISBN 13: 9781332118984

Published by Forgotten Books, 2022

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book details the voyage of the United States Steamer Enterprise during its circumnavigation of the globe from 1883 to 1886. During the course of this voyage, the Enterprise conducted a series of deep-sea soundings, contributing significantly to our understanding of the ocean floor. The author, along with fellow officers Lieutenants Geo. A. Norris and Adolph Marix, and Chief Engineer H. D. McEwan, played a key role in these soundings, which measured depths ranging from 1,000 to nearly 30,000 feet. The book provides a detailed account of the scientific methods employed and the challenges faced by the crew in conducting these groundbreaking measurements. In addition to its scientific contributions, the book offers a fascinating narrative of the Enterprise's journey, which included visits to South Africa, Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, Zanzibar, the Seychelles, and the Straits of Sunda. The author's keen eye for detail and lively writing style bring the sights, sounds, and experiences of this extraordinary voyage to life. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781332118984_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Deep-Sea Sounding (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1332118984
• ISBN 13: 9781332118984
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Voyages History

About this title

Synopsis

Two ships, one voyage, charting the unknown depths of the world’s oceans.

This is a concise account of the deep-sea sounding work carried out by the U.S. Navy ship Enterprise from 1883 to 1886. It describes how the crew deployed early sounding gear, including the Sigsbee reel and improved mechanisms, to map submarine peaks, plateaus, and depressions across the Atlantic, Indian, and South Pacific oceans. The narrative highlights key discoveries, such as notable features in the South Atlantic and a record-depth cast in the North Atlantic, and explains the practical challenges of keeping the vessel in position and obtaining reliable casts in rough seas.

The book also details the routines and innovations that made sounding possible at sea, including the method of taking casts, the handling of the reel, and the adjustments made after Cape Town. It presents a snapshot of life aboard during a long voyage, the crew’s adaptations, and the data collection that informed naval service and maritime knowledge at the time.

• How deep-sea sounding was conducted in the late 19th century, including the equipment and procedures used on board.
• notable depths and seafloor types recorded during a round-the-world cruise (1883–1886).
• The voyage’s navigation, weather, and seamanship details that affected sounding accuracy.
• The evolution of gear and technique through on‑board innovation and collaboration.

Ideal for readers of naval history, maritime exploration, and early oceanography.