8. Triton released hydrographic bottles during the cruise around the world
One of the projects in which Triton engaged during its cruise was the release of hydrographic bottles. The bottles were loaded with forms, written in multiple languages, which asked whoever found them to deliver them to the nearest office of the US government, with a description of when and where the bottle was found. They were literally messages in a bottle, Triton found standard medicine bottles served the purpose. The submarine was equipped with a signal ejector. Bottles placed in the ejector contained enough air to allow them to float to the surface, without the need of forcefully ejecting them. Several of Triton’s bottles were found and returned to the United States.
The hydrographic bottles created a concern for Beach in regard to his orders. Beach was directed to complete the circumnavigation undetected by any forces, including those of the United States. The messages, if they identified Triton, could lead to such detection. Accordingly, messages were written in a cryptic code. Nothing could be directly linked to Triton, Captain Beach, or anything else beyond the message’s stated purpose – scientific research charting ocean currents. All of the messages were written using carbon paper and the carbons retained for later comparison with the returned message. The idea of using the ancient method of a message in a sealed bottle cast into the sea combined with nuclear technology was bizarre, but an important part of Triton’s mission.