Report on the Scientific Results of the ‘Michael Sars’ North Atlantic Deep-Sea Expedition, 1910

[1914-1962]

Expeditions (Special Collections) Q115 M52 1910

Bergen: Trustees of the Bergen Museum

Michael Sars North Atlantic Deep-Sea Expedition, 1910. The Norwegian research steamer, Michael Sars, was lent to Sir John Murray (1841-1914) by the Norwegian government for this expedition. Murray requested that Johan Hjort, (1869-1948), a prominent Norwegian zoologist and oceanographer, accompany him on the mission and Murray would defray all expenses of the expedition. Michael Sars left Bergen, Norway in April, 1910 and called into Plymouth, England to pick up Murray before embarking on the five-month trip across the North Atlantic Ocean from Europe to North America. In that time they collected 2400 water samples, made almost 3000 temperature observations, dropped hundreds of ‘vertical hauls’ for plankton, and conducted 24 ‘trawlings’ at various depths. All of which garnered an abundance of hydrographical, botanical and zoological material and the discovery of one hundred new species.