Figure 6

Figure 6. Brooke sounder, invented by Midshipman John M. Brooke, USN, at the instigation of Matthew Fontaine Maury of the United States Naval Observatory in 1852. This was the first sounding device to abandon its lead at the bottom and return with a sample. Initially, it was built with two hooks for release and malfunctioned but was rebuilt with a single hook and used successfully in 1853.

Photo Category: Oceanography - Historical instruments