26 I. IJIMA : HEXACTINELLIDA. I. 



think the reader can form for himself a fair idea of what and 

 to what extent deep-sea Cœlenterates may be collected by means 

 of the lines we have used. I will only add that a very valu- 

 able and extensive collection of Hydroid colonies, Antipathidœ, 

 Alcyonidœ, Gorgonidœ and Pennatulidœ has been accumulated 

 in the Sei. Coll. Museum, since we have taken to dabo-lining. 

 The colonies of Cladocora and of similar stone-corals have often 

 been a source of delight on account of the animals found among 

 their branches. Even small members of the Fungidse w^ere now 

 and then picked up by the hooks. 



Of the Echinoderms, the Ophiurons rank first as those most 

 frequently caught by the dabo-line. The starfishes, Echini and 

 Holothurians — among them some very rare forms — are fairly 

 well represented. Such a little thing as Pourtalesia was once 

 obtained, half a dozen together, at one haul of the line. 

 Metacrinus rotundas is one of those animals whose value as 

 specimens has greatly fallen in our estimation, since w^e have 

 learned the comparative ease w-ith which it can be obtained. It 

 is well-known to Misaki fishermen under tlie name of 'Bird's 

 leg.' I have frequently taken it together with Euplectella mar- 

 shalli, &G., with the dabo-line from a depth of 100 fathoms or less. 



The Crustaceans consist mostly of brachyurous and macrur- 

 ous Decapods of all sizes, and often of the most extraordinary 

 shapes. As for the famous giant-crab, Maerocheirus kœmpferi, I 

 think the dabo-line is the only apparatus that brings it up from 

 its native haunts. Off Odawara I have myself captured three or 

 four specimens. They all came up simply entangled in coils of 

 the dabo-line and were helpless creatures, scarcely able to move 

 their limbs when taken on board, although they are believed to 

 be rapacious animals when in their native depths and are much 



