Reports on the Scientific Results of the Expedition to the Tropical 

 Pacific in charge of Alexander Agassiz by the U. S. Fish Commission 

 Steamer "Albatross," from August, 1899, to March, 1900, Commander 

 Jefferson F. Moser, U. S. N., commanding. 



III. 

 MEDUSA. 



By ALEXANDER AGASSIZ AND ALFRED GOLDSBOROUGH MAYER. 



(Published by permission of Geo. M. Bowers, U. S. Commissioner o£ fish and Fisheries.) 



INTRODUCTION. 



The medusae described in the following paper were obtained in thirty- 

 four surface hauls, and in one bottom trawl made at 830 fathoms in the 

 Marquesas. In addition to these there were thirteen intermediate hauls with 

 an open net, one at 100 fathoms, five at 150 fathoms, and seven between 

 250-350 fathoms and the surface. 



The hauls in which medusae were captured were distributed as follows: — 



We were unable to make many hauls after leaving the Society Islands, 

 and it is therefore impossible for us to draw any accurate conclusions con- 

 cerning the relative abundance of pelagic life in the eastern and western 

 regions of the tropical belt of the Pacific. It is worthy of note, however, 

 that while our tows among the Paumotus and Society Islands were very 

 poor, and almost no pelagic life was to be seen, as soon as we entered the 



