CANAiuw Fisiii:nfi:s i:\i'i:nn loy, iui',-i.j xxi 



material collected would, of course, be out of the question here, but the papers 

 included in the present volume will yet suffice to give a survey of the most important 

 results attained. The reader will here find: — 



The hydrographiical material dealt with in two separate papers. Mr. Paul Bjerkan 

 gives (pp. 349-403) a survey of the distribution of salinity, temperature, and density 

 in the waters covered by all cruises. 



Then, on the basis of the data furnished by ^fr. Bjerkan, ]\rr. J. W. Sandstrom has 

 (pp. 221-341) subjected the entire question of dynanrc (onditions in itip Canadian 

 waters to a thorough and most valuable investigation. 



The great mass of the plankton material could not, of course, be dealt with exhaus- 

 tively here; to do so would, at any rate, have required a far longer time than that which 

 has actually elapsed since its collection. It is the more fortunate, then, that Dr. A. G. 

 Huntsman, in addition to his record of the hauls made (pp. 405-420) has found time 

 and occasion to give an interesting example showing the occurrence of a single animal 

 group in the material (Chsstognaths : pp. 421-485). We have, furthermore, an extremely 

 valuable contribution by Professor Willey, on the important group of the copepods, the 

 distribution of which is here dealt with by a method now applied for the first time 

 (pp. 173-220). On most of the cruises, in addition to the net hauls, water samples 

 were preserved for subsequent study of the pelagic plants, which are dealt with by H. 

 II. Gran, according to methods developed by himself. Professor Gran's paper will be 

 found on pp. 489-495. 



Under the heading of plankton, also, we must of course reckon the pelagic fish 

 eggs, which form the most important grouji of all from a fishery x)oint of view. These 

 are dealt with by Mr. Alf. Dannevig, and the distribution of these forms in the Cana- 

 dian waters is here described for the first time. 



Of the considerable material dealing with the biology of the fishes concerned, we 

 have up to the present only been able to complete the report concerning the growth and 

 age of the herring, composition of the stocks, migrations, etc. Mr. Einar Lea has in 

 his paper (pp. 75-164) not only treated the whole of the available material — and tliis 

 far more exhaustively than could be done in my preliminary report above mentioned — 

 but has also furnished a general introduction to the methodical aspects of heiTing 

 investigations on the whole, and to the study of the problems which can now be dealt 

 with thereby. Mr. Lea's paper, like that of Mr. Sandstrom, will be found to afford a 

 guide to thestudy of these questions applicable in itself to far more than the restricted 

 and particular sphere embraced by the actual investigations concerned in each case. 



A contribution to the study of the younger year-classes of herring from the 

 southern part of the Canadian waters, the Pay of Fundy. is given by Dr. A. G. 

 Ilnntsman (pp. 165-171). 



I venture to hope that the work thus produced may, albeit by no means exhaustive 

 or altogether comprehensive in itself, yet serve in principle and by example to pave 

 the way for further research, and awaken new interest in the study of these Canadian 

 waters, which offer such remarkable and valuable features for investigation. I trust. 

 also, that the scheme of work laid down, and the nature of the material thereby pro- 

 cured, for which I am of course responsible, may prove to be justified by the results 

 attained. It might seem tempting in various ways to endeavour to collect the various 

 separate investigations here given into a single whole. I have refrained, however, from 

 any attempt at so doing, partly because it is perhaps too early as yet to think of this, 

 and partly also because I myself would infinitely rather that the reader should have the 

 advantage of consulting the excellent reports themselves, not a mere extract of the same. 



On the other hand, it will doubtless be advisable to give here, in the form of intro- 

 ductory remarks, some general idea of the principles followed thi'oughout the cruise, 

 with some reference, also, to the experience gained in the course of the actual work on 

 board, which will best explaim the particular manner in which the researches were 

 carried out. 



