235 



Another point in outfit is boots. Each man must exercise his own discre- 

 tion whether he wants to keep out the water or not, hut the question of nails 

 or no nails is a general one. A skilful climber would probably prefer nails 

 in the boots, but to an unpractised one nails are dangerous on hard and 

 smooth rock. He would rather advise the tyro not to have nails in his 

 boots. 



The cap or hat should be thick, this often saves the head among the rocks 

 the brim should be narrow, a wide one gets into the water. 



The best microscope for seaside work is Stephenson's Binocular. It is 

 more convenient than the ordinary Wenham Binocular, as objects in fluid 

 can be examined on a horizontal stage without craning the head over the 

 instrument, but the prisms were usually not fitted strongly enough for carry- 

 ing about much. The short body (Hartnack pattern) is a convenient form. 

 He carried a Stephenson's Binocular and one of Swifts' portable Binoculars. 

 The Stephenson's microscope was a delicate instrument, and required more 

 care than others. 



Two or three cold chisels and a hammer were necessary, a couple of short 

 chisels and one long one, to each of which a stout piece of string should be 

 tied two or three feet long, which could be twisted round the hand which 

 was left at liberty. If the chisel or hammer was dropped into a pool the 

 string would float, and it would be easily recovered. 



The hammer should be strong, the geological pattern is best, and the head 

 must be well fixed on. 



Tw t o or three glass syringes would be useful for cleaning and mounting 

 specimens, and for aerating living objects in water. A few beakers which 

 pack in nests one within the other, are very portable and useful. These are 

 made of extremely thin glass, and objects can be examined through the side 

 very easily. They make excellent temporary aquaria. A few pieces of clean 

 slate may be put at the bottom. A supply of watch glasses, as large as pos- 

 sible, is required. 



If bottles were not carried in the pocket, an ordinary marketing basket 

 answered every purpose. The stiff brown basket slightly constricted in the 

 middle, where the curved wooden arched handle going from side to side is 

 inserted is the best ; the arm is passed through this handle. The bottles 

 should be packed in the basket with wet seaweed to keep them cool. 



A pond stick would be useful, if it could be carried conveniently, to cut 

 and drag up seaweed from deep pools. 



Whitaker's Almanac is another essential ; in it is a table of the tide constants 

 showing the difference of time in the tide between London Bridge, and prac- 

 tically every other part of the country ; also a table of daily high tides at 

 London Bridge, and with these tables it is easy to calculate the tide in a far 

 more accurate way than by inquiry on the spot. Fishermen usually are not 

 accurate within half an hour. It must also be remembered that, with a strong 

 wind, the tide would vary, and inquiry should be made if the tide was gene- 

 rally before or behind its time. In some places the current beats the tide. 

 The tide is higher with strong on-shore winds. After once or twice 

 observing it is easy to calculate how much the current beats the tide. 



