COLLECTING AND PRESERVING MARINE ALG-ffi, 27 



comparatively little apparatus with him on a collecting trip. Some- 

 thing is needed for the transportation of the material collected, and 

 the general receptacle for the specimens may vary to suit the 

 individual tastes of the collector or the particular nature of each 

 different locality. A good canvas or rubber bag with a flap for 

 closing the mouth and a broad strap for the shoulder is the writer's 

 preference. It should be water-tight if possible. A basket or a 

 light paper pail is a very convenient thing for many localities, but 

 Is inconvenient when there is much wading to be done. A large, 

 stout pocket-knife, well anointed with vaseline to prevent rusting, 

 and a fairly powerful pocket lens, are absolutely essential. An old 

 spoon is often found of service in gathering from rocks gregarious 

 algfe of small size and more or less delicate consistency. A small 

 geological hammer and chisel are necessary if occasion arises to 

 collect crustaceous rock species, especially if they are calcareous. 

 One occasionally needs a small hatchet if large kelps are to be 

 collected entire, especially on the Pacific Coast. A hand-net is very 

 useful when collecting floating forms, and a scrape-net if one is 

 collecting from piles of wharves or from submerged rocks when using 

 a boat. A pair of fisherman's rubber boots with extensible legs, 

 reaching to the hips, are necessary for wading. Half a dozen 

 homeopathic vials with wide mouths, distinct necks (so that the 

 corks will not loosen and come out), and snug-fitting corks, will be 

 needed for segregating solitary small specimens. A large bottle, or 

 preserve jar, or two, for the specimens which must be brought back 

 in water or for bringing back a supply of water for mounting or 

 other purpose, are a part of the usual outfit. Most specimens, how- 

 ever, whether coarse or fine, may be wrapped in newspaper and 

 stored in the general receptacle until examined or prepared for the 

 herbarium or for future study. Consequently, it will be well to 

 take along a plentiful supply of old newspapers. Each species or 

 even each specimen may then be wrapped up by itself and kept 

 apart from the others until it is necessary or convenient to remove it^ 

 Selection of Specimens. — Great care should be exercised in 

 selecting the specimens for study and for preservation. The speci- 

 men should be as typical as possible. Imperfect or distorted speci. 

 mens are to be avoided unless it happens that such specimens are 

 desirable as showing some point or points of particular interest in 



