340 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The material was obtained from four different sources: 



(i) From the piles and rocks at low water. This included the piles of the United 

 States Bureau of Fisheries Wharf, of the Beaufort wharv'es, of the railroad bridge, all the 

 way from Beaufort to Morehead City, of the boathouse of the life-saving station at Cape 

 Lookout, and of the wharves of Marshallberg and the rocks that form the jetties at Bogue 

 and Shackleford Banks. Some specimens obtained from the sea buoy might be men- 

 tioned here, but as this had been changed a short time before, there were not many to 

 be found. 



(2) By dredging. This was done to the greatest extent in Bogue Sound, nearly 

 opposite Morehead City, in 10 or 12 feet of water, but dredgings were also made in the 

 North River and at various points along the straits, from the west end nearly to the 

 east end, and in the harbor near Shackleford, all at a depth of from 8 to 15 feet; near 

 Cape Lookout in 15 to 20 feet, with little success, and near the sea buoy in 6 or 7 fathoms. 

 These forms, in general, were little different from the shore forms as the water was so 

 shallow. The bottom is nearly all sandy, but shells are plentiful to give a means of 

 attachment for hydroids and other forms on which hydroids grow. 



(3) From floating gulf weed. This provided a large number of the best specimens. 

 A severe southwest storm, a few days previous, had torn loose a large amount of this 

 gulf weed, and in consequence it was drifting in during the whole of my stay. The 

 greater portion of it belonged to the genus Sargassum but some Turhinaria was also 

 present. The most suitable place to collect it was on the seaward side of Bogue Bank, 

 where it could easily be obtained before it reached the shore, and while it was still alive. 

 An hour in or on the hot sand on the beach was enough to destroy many of the more 

 delicate specimens. Much of the guLfweed drifted right into the harbor and up into 

 Bogue Sound, so that it was available at any time. Sometimes the local seaweed was 

 found floating, but the forms on it usually corresponded with the shore forms. 



(4) From material dredged by the Fish Hawk. On May 14 and 15, 1907, the 

 United States Fisheries steamer Fish Hawk was used for dredging at a point 2o>^ miles 

 SSW. X W. from the sea buoy at the entrance to Beaufort Harbor, or about 23 miles from 

 the United States Fisheries Station at Beaufort. The dredging, which was done in 13 or 

 14 fathoms of water, was done largely to obtain seaweed from the coral bottom, but 

 some other material was obtained. The seaweed was taken away for examination but 

 some sponges and crabs were stored at the Beaufort station. The Bureau kindly allowed 

 me to look over this material for hydroids, and several interesting specimens were found." 



According to general opinion, large collections of hydroids from Beaufort could 

 not be expected, but I am doubtful whether in such a limited time, within such a 

 limited area, so much interesting material could be collected at many other localities 

 along the coast. 



a I wish to express my obligation to Prof. C. C. Nutting, of the State University of Iowa, who, besides giving invaluable 

 advice, placed his fine collection of hydroid material, his extensive literature, and even his manuscript, at my disposal. To 

 my wife I am indebted for the drawings of the ntunerous illustrations in the paper. These were taken from pencil drawings 

 made with the camera-lucida. 



