General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Synthetic hull with metal parts.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

135.0 cm

Width

123.9 cm

Height

92.1 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

74.8

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Physics

Category

Hydrography/oceanography

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Guildline

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Smiths Falls

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Nova Scotia

Period

ca. 1970s

Canada

The Batfish was an innovation in oceanographic sample and data gathering. This hydrodynamic towed vehicle became a key scientific tool in the 1970s as Canada explored the oceans within its expanded 200-mile boundaries. It was towed behind the CSS Hudson, Canada’s main research vessel at the time.

Function

Used as a vehicle to mount sensors for gathering oceanographic data about temperature, salinity and plankton concentration. It was towed behind a ship and controlled remotely to vary its depth between 0 and 300 m. (Ref. 1)

Technical

The Batfish worked together with the PDP-8 computer onboard the CSS Hudson to study data in real time. It and controlled remotely to vary its depth between 0 and 300 m. There were operational challenges related to the towing line. On one occasion, a miscalculation while trying to give Batfish more cable to swim further and deeper led to tangling of the cable. When this was overcome, scientists were able to send the Batfish deeper than before (down to 500 m).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

None apparent.

Missing

electronic instrumention

Finish

Predominantly orange hull with a black bar from which it would be towed. The interior of the hull is a dull brown colour and it has silver coloured clasps where the top portion of the hull is attached.

Decoration

N/A