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Rock Pools. — In the long slate ridges, and in the granite and most other 

 rocks, the sea has hollowed out pools, with edges fringed with coarse fuci, 

 underneath which are the red weeds and zoophytes. On first looking into 

 the pool nothing can be seen, but gradually a great deal will be made out. 

 At the lowest edge and in the holes and crevices of these pools a great many 

 things are to be found. These are, on the whole, about the best places to 

 search for specimens. 



Many people find a difficulty in looking into the water, especially in pools, 

 as the slightest breeze ruffles the water, and the light is thrown up from 

 the water in a very peculiar and dazzling way. It is possible to get over 

 this difficulty by what the fishermen call a water-glass, which is used for 

 getting up wreckage and spearing flat fish. It is a mere square box or tube 

 of wood, of a sufficient size to allow the face to be put in at one end, the 

 top. which is left open, the bottom is fitted with a piece of common window 

 glass. One side is longer than the others, and has a hole in it for a handle. 

 The glass is pushed a little below the surface of the water, and when you 

 look in, burying your face in the hollow, it takes off the glare of the light, 

 and the bottom can be seen with surprising clearness, but it is a cumbersome 

 instrument to carry about. Another way of collecting is to take a bucket 

 and empty the pool, if sufficiently small, and sufficiently high up. If it 

 cannot be emptied the water can be lowered so as to expose the sides which 

 are permanently covered, until artificially emptied. A bucket is awkward to 

 carry, butindiarubber buckets are made which are very handy for this pur- 

 pose, and such a bucket enables one to dispense with a basket. 



Wreckage. — Under this general term are included many things. In the 

 first place if a storm occur on shore it will tear up the great Laminaria and 

 other weeds, which come in with the storm, and if the shore be examined 

 immediately after the storm it gives capital results. The roots are so large 

 and strong that they bring up a great deal of good material. It is useless to 

 look over weed that has been washing about on the shore for two or three 

 days. It must be examined the day after the storm. The storm must not 

 be merely the wind-wash on the top of the water as the sailors call it, but 

 when the waves are large with a good distance between wave and wave they 

 plough up the bottom, and the next morning will yield a good harvest. 

 Another kind of wreckage consists of pieces of wood and stuff that come 

 up from the bottom, which are extremely rich. As a rule, however, it is 

 difficult to get the trawlers to bring in the rubbish, but they bring in 

 wreckage for the copper bolts, which are worth money. If you make friends 

 with them, they will tell you when they have any wreckage. Wood is 

 much better than iron. Lost anchors, &c, sunk in deep water are profuse in 

 living objects, but specimens off iron are usually covered with black oxide 

 which it is very difficult to get rid of. In Jersey at certain times of the year 

 the seaweed is cut and dragged in with rakes for manure ; if examined as 

 soon as it comes in a great many interesting things may be procured from it. 

 Floating pieces of cork often have a great deal upon them. Beyond this 

 the best thing is some method of scraping the bottom. Watch for the crab- 

 pots as they are brought ashore (occasionally), or far better go out with the 



