Authors: Scott Skinner
Date Submitted: May 31, 2001
Article Type: Journal

The use of kites in scientific research is a recurring theme, so it came as no surprise that a 1909 Scientific American article on sounding apparatus included a box kite in its description. But a look at the title of the article provided a surprise. “Deep Sea Sounding Apparatus : Some Recent Improvements,” it read.

The sounding apparatus, very useful in approaching land, when it is desirable to know the depth of water at every point of the course, is described as follows: “It consists of a water kite towed by a small line to which it is attached obliquely, so that the pressure of the water on its front forces it downward, as the air pressure forces an aerial kite upward.” Isn’t it interesting that the country, Germany, that so aggressively used the kite for scientific investigation on both land and sea would also use the kite in this unique way?

The diagram shows the system clearly—underwater box kite, line, sounding line.

The description of the device continues: “The depth attained by the kite can be deduced from the length of the line, and the apparatus can be set for any desired depth by regulating the amount of line paid out. At the bottom of the kite is a pin which, on striking the sea bottom, detaches from the tow line the lower part of the bridle, causing the kite to trail and rise to the surface of the water. At the moment of release the line slackens and causes a bell to ring on the ship.”

PDF Link: Journal Issue