Scientific Experiments Aboard the BALDRIGE

Subject: Message for Charissa
From: Craig S Nelson
To: 74407.2213@compuserve.com

Charissa wonders, "Did you take any water samples, and if so, what did you find?

Captain Nelson answers:

Hello Charissa,

Welcome aboard. I'm very pleased that you have discovered the pages of MidLink that are being distributed on the Internet World Wide Web. I'm sure that you will find many interesting topics on the pages of MidLink.

We did conduct one biological sampling cruise of about one month duration in which we used large nets to collect numerous samples of small planktonic fish from waters as deep as 2000 meters. Among the samples that we caught there were the usual lantern fish and other fish called myctophids, and a wide variety of euphausids (shrimp-like animals), long slender eel-like fish, and many other marine organisms. I do believe that the biologists who were on the ship did identify new species of fish among the many samples that were collected, but the final word on whether the fish species are new and unique must wait further study under the microscope in their laboratories in Miami, Florida and Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Please keep reading MidLink for the other very interesting information that will appear there this summer and next fall, when school resumes around the United States. MidLink is a very good tool to help you learn. Watch for updates on the round-the-world voyage of the NOAA Ship MALCOLM BALDRIGE.

Your Friend,
Captain Craig S. Nelson, NOAA
Commanding Officer
NOAA Ship MALCOLM BALDRIGE

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