For exploring the unmapped regions
of the Amazon or the upper reaches of the Chinese rivers the
airship offers unbounded facilities. Another scope suggested by
the above is searching for pearl-oyster beds, sunken treasure,
and assisting in salvage operations. Owing to the clearness of
the water in tropical regions, objects can be located at a great
depth when viewed from the air, and it is imagined that an
airship will be of great assistance in searching for likely
places. Sponges and coral are also obtained by diving, and here
the airship's co-operation will be of value. Small ships such as
the S.S. Zero would be ideal craft for these and similar
operations.
The mine patrol, as maintained by airships during the war,
encourages the opinion that a systematic search for icebergs in
the northern Atlantic might be carried out by airships during
certain months of the year. As is well known, icebergs are a
source of great danger to shipping in these waters during the
late spring and summer; if the situation becomes bad the main
shipping routes are altered and a southerly course is taken which
adds considerably to the length of the voyage. The proposal put
forward is that during these months as continuous a patrol as
possible should be carried out over these waters.
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