NARRATIVE. 33 



Linckia diplax, Astropecten zebra (?), and various Ophiuroids ; 



Halsydna sp., Serpula actinoceros ; 



Pontonia sp., Lambrus sp., and other Decapods ; 



Molgula sp., and a few common Molluscs. 



As we had heard that pearl oysters had been found " off the Suami Hock," Fort 

 Frederick, between Dutch Bay and Back Bay, I considered it necessary to examine 

 the ground further in close to the rocks where the steamer could not be taken. So 

 we engaged a pilot's large boat with a native Tindal and crew and took with us 

 Mr. J. B. Colomb, from Trincomalee, who professed to know where specimens had 

 been obtained by native fishermen. We took haul after haul of the dredge close in 

 along the northern edge of the Suami Bock (Station XXIII. ), beginning abreast of 

 the detached rock oft 1 the point of Fort Frederick peninsula and working along 

 parallel with the shore past the old Dutch boat-jetty. We were all the time on the 

 ground indicated by Mr. Colomb and the native pilot, and obtained good hauls, but 

 nowhere was there any trace of pearl oysters not even fragments of dead shells. 



STATION XXIII. Close to Suami Bock, Back Bay ; depth 4 to 8 fathoms, mostly 

 between 5 and 6 fathoms; bottom sand, shells, and in places stones and corals. 

 Half-a-dozen hauls of the dredge. 



Caryopliyllia sp. and other small corals, Rhipitlogorgia sp. and other Alcyonaria ; 



Spatangoid, Antedon sp., Ophiuroids, Holothuria atra, Linckia multiforis ; 



Melita obtusata, Ebalia, and other small crabs ; 



Malleus vulgaris, Octopus sp. 



We then steamed across the mouth of " Great Bay," in order to try a haul of the 

 trawl in the open off Foul Point. Unfortunately the bottom proved unsuitable, the 

 trawl eventually caught fast, and, before the strain could be relieved, the bridle 

 parted and the wire rope came in, bringing with it the ring of the bridle (in which 

 was entangled a beautiful dendritic Antipatharian colony) and leaving the trawl at 

 the bottom. We then dredged over the same ground in the hope of entangling the 

 dredge in some part of the trawl, but in vain. We may unite these hauls as : 



STATION XXIV. Two and a-half to three miles north of Foul Point; depth 

 ranging from 46 to 24 fathoms ; bottom hard and rough probably rock. 



Sponges (many), various corals ; 



Various Gorgonacea, including Juncella juncea and Solcuocaulou tortuoswm ; 

 Aiitipatlics sp., and Cirrliipathcs spiralis; 



Antedon rcynaudi (on Gorgonids), various Ophrarids (on Gorgonids) ; 



Bonellia pumicea (in Coral) ; 



Melita obtusata and other Amphipods ; 



Ischnochiton ferreus, n. sp. (Sykes). 



We landed with a party of our Maldivian lascars at Shell Bay, near Foul Point, to 



F 



