464 DEPARTMENT OF THE ^AYAL SERVICE 



Vertical.— So many factors are involved in tlie vertical distribution of this species 

 that a discussion of particular stations is necessary. At No. 33 station 23 in the deep 

 water off Anticosti island no specimens were obtained in the closing-net haul between 

 34£) and 145 metres. Between 100 and 60 metres, one specimen 20mm. long and twenty- 

 nine over 23mm. long were obtained. Between 45 and metres there were five speci- 

 mens all 22 mm. or under in length, and at the surface none were obtained. These 

 hauls were made about midday (l-2p.m.). The larger specimens were all below 45 

 metres, the intermediate specimens above 60 metres but not at the surface. No speci- 

 mens were in the deep saline water. No small specimens were present. 



At No. 33 station 10 off the eastern side of Prince Edward Island in shallow water, 

 the closing haul from 35 to 25 metres gave thirty-two specimens over 16mm. in length. 

 The haul from 25 to 10 metres one specimen 14mm. long; and the hauls from 10 to 

 metres and at the surface, none. These hauls were made about 3 p.m. The larger were 

 in the cold bottom water below 25 metres, and there were none above 10 metres. 



In the Bay of Islands at No. S3 station 54 the tow hauls 'which were presumed to 

 go as deep as 70 metres brought up an abundance ofi this species, but all the individuals 

 were 16mm. or less in length. At practically the same spot at No. 33 station 55, the 

 young -fish trawl brought up from the bottom (about 110 metres deep) an abundance 

 of large individuals (23 to 43mm. in length.) Here again the larger individuals were 

 wholly confined to the cold bottom water below 70 metres, and there was an abundance 

 of small individuals above 25 metres. The time of day was between 9 and 10 a.m. 



At No. S3 station 57 in the Bay of Islands where the depth was 210 metres with 

 moderately saline water below the freezing point quite to the bottom, the young-fish 

 trawl, which was towed along the bottom, brought up an abundance of large individuals 

 between 21 and 52mm. long. These were thoroughly mixed with typical bottom forms 

 (shrimps and Amphipods) so that there can be little doubt but that they were near 

 the bottom. It is at least probable that in the Bay of Islands the larger individuals go 

 down, into the deepest water, for example, 270 metres at No. 33 station 59. More 

 definite information is desirable on this point. There would thus be a marked differ- 

 ence in the vertical distribution depending upon the character of the water. Where 

 proper conditions of salinity and temperature obtained, the species goes far into the 

 depths, but if not, it is restricted to the suitable intermediate layers. 



As in the case of Euk-rohnia hamata, the hauls made in the Bay ofl Fundy at 

 Prince stations 1, 2 and 3 showed the effect of the vertical currents due to the tides. 

 At station 1 where the species was so rare as not to be taken in either of two vertical 

 hauls, the tows taken near or at the surface yielded 46 large specimens. At stations 

 2 and 3 it was obtained in numbers in the vertical hauls, but failed to occur in the tows, 

 except one small individual in the deep tow at station 3. 



Vertical currents doubtless explain many of the irregularities appearing in the 

 vertical distribution elsewhere. 



Owing to differences due to this and other factors, it is very difficult to determine 

 what effect light has on the vertical distribution of this species. If we divide the 

 twenty-four hours into three-hour intervals, and designate these by their mid-points, 

 6 a.m. representing from 4.30 to 7.30 a.m., and others similarly, and then put together 

 the records for each three-hour period, we can to some extent overcome the influence 

 of the other factors. The stations on the first cruise of the Acadia, at which this 

 species was obtained, give the following result as to its presence or absence in the 

 surface hauls: 9 a.m., one negative; 12 m., two negative, 3 positive; 3 p.m., three nega-' 

 tive, one positive; 6 p.m., two negative; 9 p.m., one negative, two positive; 12 midnight, 

 four positive; 3 a.m., three positive; 6 a.m., two positive. It is noteworthy that large 

 numbers were obtained in the surface hauls only for 12 midnight and 3 a.m. From this 

 we conclude that S. elegans comes to the surface from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., occurring there 



