DEPARTMENT OF MARINE INVERTEBRATES. 205 



from Misaiue Bank to Middle Groun«l, on the uorthcni side of Sable 

 Island Bank, and thence to Halifax. From the latter place the steamer 

 returned to Wood's Holl, Mass., by way of Le Have Bank and the deep 

 water off the eastern and southeastern borders of George's Bank, many 

 dredgings being made in depths of 52 to 1,234 fathoms. During this 

 cruise, which lasted from June 17 to July Jo, one hundred and nine 

 hauls (stations 2427 to 2535) were made with the dredge and beaui 

 trawl, and fishing was actively engaged in wherever the depths gave 

 promise of good results. 



During the remainder of the summer the Albatross was employed off 

 the coast of southern New England and Long Island, going to the east- 

 ward as far as longitude 05° 08' AV,, the most distant station being 

 located in latitude 37° 23' X., longitude 68° 08' W., or about 240 miles 

 southeast of Martha's Vineyard, where a depth of 2,731 fathoms was 

 obtained. Fifty-six stations (2536 to 2591), with depths of 18 to 2,731 

 fathoms were made, with very important biological and physical results. 

 On the return trip to Washington, in October, explorations were car- 

 ried on off the coasts of North and South Carolina, between Capes Hat- 

 teras and Romaiu, thirty-seven hauls (2592 to 2628) being taken in 

 depths of 9 to 528 fathoms. 



The spring explorations of the Albatross in the region of the Bahama 

 Islands began the last part of February and terminated early in May. 

 They were conducted in the combined interests of the U. S. Hydro- 

 graphic Office and the Fish Commission, but consisted mainly of deep- 

 sea soundings for the benefit of the former service. Dredgings were 

 made in the so-called "Tongue of Ocean," in some parts of which the 

 depths exceed 1,000 fathoms, with unexpected results, the bottom nearly 

 everywhere being composed of coral mud, utterly barren of life, and 

 therefore of little biological interest ; but many valuable specimens 

 were obtained from the shallow waters among the reefs and islands. 

 During a trip to Key West for the purpose of coaling, a few hauls were 

 made off' Havana and in the Straits of Florida, off" the northeastern part 

 of the Florida Reefs. On the homeward trip a line of dredgings was 

 also carried northward from Little Bahama Bank 'to Cape Fear, North 

 Carolina. During this cruise fifty-one dredgings were made in depths 

 of 30 to 1,109 fathoms (stations 2629 to 2679). 



The total number of dredging stations made by the steamer Albatross 

 during the year was 253, being designated by serial numbers 2427 to 

 2679, inclusive. Yery large collections were obtained in all branches 

 of marine zoology, the study of which will be of great scientific and 

 practical interest. The area covered extends from the eastern edge of 

 the Grand Bank of Newfoundland to the Gulf of Mexico, and the depths 

 explored range from shallow water to 2,731 fathoms. An account of 

 the collections and of the work done upon them is given elsewhere. 



The marine station of the Fish Commission at Wood's Holl, Mass., 

 was occupied as the headquarters of explorations from about June 18 



