THE NAUTILUS. 39 



the boat's anchorage in two fathoms of water and had much difficulty 

 in getting the material aboard as the sand was almost too fine to 

 stay in the dredge net. The material is not rich, but a large hand- 

 ful looked over yesterday yielded a Dentalium, a Turbonilla, and 

 three or four minute Rissoids. 



At Ceara I found Neritina virginea very common and all along the 

 coast a Cryptogramiua is in evidence. Also two species of the 

 Lucinidae, one measuring about two inches across are not rare, as 

 well as several representatives of the Tellinidae, always beach-worn. 

 A day's very careful dredging over some nine miles of the estuary 

 on the side of which Natal is located, ranging from the muddy 

 mangrove swamps above to the shifting sands at the mouth gave 

 very little results, so that I am disappointed in the hope of securing 

 a large collection while here. However, as we shall stay a month 

 longer, I hope to be able to make a useful and fairly full report of 

 what is here. There is a company about to begin work with a 

 couple of deep-sea trawlers, and we have been invited to make our- 

 selves at home aboard as soon as they get to work. This should 

 give me a chance to see just what the bottom offers about this region. 



Our original plan to work the coast from this point to Para lias 

 been upset because the only available government boat is too small 

 to carry the necessary supply of coal and water to make the long 

 run between ports where coal can be had, and the owner of the only 

 available sailing vessel demands $3000.00 to take us to Para, al- 

 though the trip could be made in a month or six weeks. On this 

 account, and because of the great possibilities which the trawlers 

 offer, we have decided to make a careful survey of this region before 

 moving up the coast. 



You asked me to write you of our trip for use in the NAUTILUS. 

 If any of the foregoing seems of sufficient interest for such use you 

 are welcome to use it. As you will see, our plans have been largely 

 changed, but it is the verdict of all concerned that a thorough survey 

 of this region, which has never been worked at all, may yield as 

 valuable results as anything we could do. We have passes over the 

 two railroads, and everything points to efficient work. 



Meanwhile we are beautifully located on a hill overlooking bay 

 and ocean; there is a constant breeze from the ocean, and there is 

 no appreciable heat unless one exerts oneself ; so we are in for a 

 delightful time, whatever our results may be. 



