136 



occasions one or two eggs procured in the tow-net attached to 

 the beam-trawl exhibited all the characteristics described above. 

 The polygonal markings were very distinct, as well as the con- 

 necting columns. One egg contained an embryo fairly well 

 advanced, and this, when dissected out, showed many black 

 branching cells over the body from head to tail. The rectum 

 was apparently anterior. 



The eggs were procured at the following times and places : — 



(i) August 20th, 1903. Cape Point, N. 81° E., 32 miles, 460 

 fathoms. One procured. Refer. No. 17385. 



(2) August 27th, 1903. Cape Point, N.E. by E. | E., 8 miles, 



91 fathoms. One procured. Refer. No. 17555. 



(3) September 27th, 1903. Cape Point, N.E. ^ N., 46 miles, 



760 fathoms. One procured. Refer. No. 181 34. 



(4) September 27th, 1903. Cape Point, N.E. i N., 47 miles, 



700-1,000 fathoms. Two procured. Refer. No. 18097. 

 "(5) July 8th, 1903. Cape Point, N.E. by E., 36 miles. 650-700 

 fathoms. One procured. Refer. No. 16799. 



On these occasions a moderately fine net was used on the 

 surface, while a coarse net and a moderately fine net were 

 attached to the beam of the shrnnp trawl, the eggs being found 

 072 /v in the last. 



The measurements of these eggs were as follows : — • 

 (^1) Diameter of egg, ri5 mm.; of oil globule, "3 mm. 



\- y » ») i> » » '» " » 



\}i) )> V 121 „ ,, ,, 25 ,, 



(contained embryo). 



(4) .. » I '07 .. » .' '3 mm- 



(contained embryo). 



The manner m which they were procured seems, on the whole, 

 to point to the fact that their natural place of occurrence is at 

 or near the bottom of the sea. As against this supposition, 

 however, we have to bear in mind that the eggs when procured 

 from the ripe female floated, and that the bottom net was not 

 a closing one. Neither of these considerations are conclusive 

 however, as the fish from which the eggs were procured had been 

 brought up from a depth at which there must have been great 

 pressure, and the eggs under these new conditions of diminished 

 pressure might float. Again, as against the second objection 

 we have to consider that on none of the four occasions on which 

 the eggs were procured were any found in the surface tow-net, 

 which was in use at the same time. The question can only be 

 satisfactorily settled by the use of a closing net. 



Contained 2t->-'?o Small Oil Globules, but otherwise like the others. 



