172 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



In all, 10 new species were collected and described, distributed as follows: 

 Leodice, 2 species; Lumhrinereis, 3 species; Drilonereis, 3 species; Arabella, 

 1 species; Marphysa, 1 species. Colored drawings of all but two of these were 

 obtained, and detailed descriptions will appear later. 



In the preparation of the water-color drawings I had the efficient assistance 

 of Mr. Duncan Gay. 



Due to the temporary closing of the Tortugas Laboratory and the difficulties 

 and expense of travel, but few investigators have prosecuted their studies 

 during the past year. Moreover, war duties (such as those of the Director 

 in teaching navigation to enlisted men in the U. S. Navy) have interfered 

 more or less with the normal activities of the Department. Nevertheless, the 

 work actually accomplished has been performed under the best conditions, 

 and among other results we now have the only satisfactory data upon the 

 growth of Pacific corals, and charts might well state that an average growth 

 of 1 inch per annum may be expected in channels through coral reefs. 



Moreover, in the Pacific, it appears that surface currents moving toward 

 the east in opposition to the prevailing westerly drift are relatively acid, as 

 are also currents of arctic or subarctic origin which flow into warmer regions. 

 This leads one to suspect that counter currents which set toward the east 

 consist of deep water coming to the surface; and the ease and rapidity with 

 which one can determine the alkalinity may enable us to provide ship captains 

 with a means for detecting the presence of a back-set current before the ship 

 has been deflected from her intended course. 



We believe also that we can now devise apparatus for drilling rapidly 

 through coral reefs and bringing up a continuous core. 



