374 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



undigested bank-clams {Glycimeris) from them, besides a number of 

 clams which were more or less digested, and several crabs and small 

 fish. 



At station 2468 (latitude 46° 11' 30", longitude 5qo 51' 30"), a haul 

 was made with the ship's dredge, in 42 fathoms, near the southwestern 

 edge of the bank, and many dead shells of the bank-clam and other 

 varieties were obtained, also soft corals, sand-dollars, sponges, starfish, 

 ophiurans, holothurians, and some stones. 



The forenoon of July 4 was spent in making dredgings across the 

 deep plateau which extends from Saint Peter's Bank nearly across to 

 Banquereau, and which has a depth varying from 200 to 225 fathoms. 

 It is probable that this plateau may, in the future, prove to be a valu- 

 able fishing ground for halibut, and already on some parts of it, within 

 15 or 20 miles of the edge of Saint Peter's Bank, good fares of halibut 

 have been obtained. 



We found many varieties of marine life, and there was evidence of an 

 abundance of food for halibut, though the bottom was generally muddy 

 and unsuitable for the above-named species. An exception to this was 

 at station 2471 (latitude 44o 34', longitude 56° 41' 45"), in 218 fathoms. 

 In this position the beam-trawl was torn on rocky bottom, and what 

 material was obtained indicated a ground suitable for halibut. Among 

 other things, a few shrimp and other forms of Crustacea were takeu, be- 

 sides seven species of shells, octopus, grenadiers, some sponges, many 

 small brittle-stars, some small crinoids, bob-tailed squid, coral, and sev- 

 eral stones. In the two previous hauls during the morning, Norway 

 haddock and pole flounders were taken, besides Baird's grenadiers, 

 several Chester's hake, and various forms of corals, sea-pens (chiefly 

 Pennatula horealis), sea-anemones, 1 octopus, some shells (mostly Bue- 

 cinujii undatum, Astarte, and Yoldia thraciformu), some specimens of 

 the Finmark sea-feather {Balticinajinnmrchica), and quantities of skate's 

 eggs (some with living embryos). Also, there were taken cup-corals 

 (Flabellum), many fragile sea-urchins {Schizasterfragilis), several species 

 of starfish (the most noticeable being Hippasteria phrygiana), sponges, 

 bob-tailed squid [Rossia megaptera), 2 Lycodes, and 1 Scopehis. 



At station 2472, and the four succeeding stations, tangles and grap- 

 nels were put over in depths ranging from 133 to 222 fathoms ; but very 

 little material was obtained. Among othf^r things were a few starfish 

 and sea-urchins, some small samples of deep-water coral {Primnoa 

 reseda), and one large specimen of Macrurus bairdii. 



During the evening Mr. Nye rigged tlie electric light over the ship's 

 side, and this attracted many marine animals which we thought were 

 young squid. There were probably as many as 50 or 75 of them dart- 

 ing about the light, but all eflbrts to catch any failed, since they would 

 not bite at a jig, and were too quick to bo taken in a dip-net. 



As it was deemed advisable to make an investigation about the east- 

 ern part of Banquereau, the ship lay by the entire night, drifting. The 



