MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 121 



No. 7. — Contributions to the Fauna of the Gulf Stream at great 

 depths (2d series'). By L. F. de Pourtales, Assist. U. S. 

 Coast Survey. 



(Communicated by the Superintendent op the U. S. Coast Survey.) 



The researches of which an account was given in the preceding num- 

 ber of the Bulletin were continued in the spring of the present year 

 (18GS) in connection with the regular explorations of the Gulf Stream by 

 the Coast Survey. The few dredgings obtained in 18G7 had given results 

 of so rich and promising a character, that Professor Peircc, the Super- 

 intendent of the U. S. Coast Survey, directed me to accompany the 

 party again, and to dredge on all the lines of deep-sea soundings off the 

 Florida reef. 



The U. S. Steamer Bibb, Acting Master R. Piatt, U. S. N., was 

 assigned to the work. The means of working were much more com- 

 plete, a small engine having been set up on deck, by which not 

 only a great economy of time and labor was obtained in hauling up 

 the lead or dredge, but it was found perfectly practicable to work both 

 at the same time ; so that our estimate of time, based on the plan of 

 sounding out a line one day and dredging over the same ground the 

 next, was reduced one half, — an advantage which will be under- 

 stood by those who know the value of a cairn day for such work. For 

 the perfection of the mechanical arrangements, and the difficult task of 

 keening the reckoning in the current with very scanty landmarks, I 

 am again deeply indebted to Captain Piatt and his officers. 



The region to be explored this season comprised a section of the 

 Gulf Stream from Sombrero, or Dry Rocks Light-house, on the 

 Florida reef, to Elbow Light-house on the Double-headed Shot Key- ; 

 a section of the St. Nicholas Channel from Salt Key to the opposite 

 coast of Cuba ; a section of Santaren Channel from Anguilla Keys to 

 the edge of the Great Bahama Bank ; and a more detailed examination 

 of the slope extending from the Florida reef to the trough of the chan- 

 nel from Sand Key to Sombrero Light. The sections across St. 

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