276 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



tuberosa, Lyonsia norvegica, Lima loscomhii, Dentalium 

 entale. 



3. Off Fleshwick and round Bradda Head, half a mile 

 off shore (with small trawl), 18 fathoms ; algae, with 

 common species of Echinus, Asterias, Solaster, Stenor- 

 liynchus, Inachus, and Hyas. 



It may be of some use to place on record the course of 

 procedure at each dredging station on these expeditions. 

 The plan for the day is arranged with the captain of the 

 steamer, and when the first locality is reached the spot is 

 determined on the chart, and the depth verified by casting 

 the lead. Then the dredge (measuring 2 feet 6 inches by 

 1 foot, and weighing from 30 to 40 lbs.) is sent down with 

 a tow-net tied on the line about two fathoms from the 

 dredge. Very often a smaller dredge with a bag of 

 cheese-cloth is sent over on the other side of the ship. 

 One or more surface tow-nets are also put out. The 

 tow-nets, both surface and deep, are looked after by Mr. 

 I. C. Thompson, who, after hauling them, first turns out 

 their contents into a clear glass jar of sea-water, and then, 

 after noting the general character of the catch and any 

 specially conspicuous forms, strains off the water through 

 a small bag made of very fine miller's silk, and transfers 

 the "plankton" left adhering to the silk into a tube 

 containing a special preservative fluid formed of spirit, 

 glycerine, and water. 



When the dredge is brought up it is emptied on deck, 

 and after a note of the general character of the deposit 

 and assemblage of animals has been taken, any specially 

 large or rare specimens are picked out and transferred to 

 buckets or jars of sea- water, or to store-bottles of spirit. 

 Then the heap is spread out so as to form a layer not 

 more than one or two inches in depth, and one or two 



