FROM THE GULF OF GUINEA. 5 



Kleinenberg's * formula, as adopted by Mayer f , that is, without the addition of creosote, 

 was often used, because of its reported high degree of penetrability for chitinized 

 structures. The fixing agent was simply added to the sea-water, and this was subse- 

 quently succeeded by increasing strengths of spirit. Mayer's J pier o- hydrochloric acid 

 method was only employed a few times. 



Corrosive sublimate was extensively used, and was found to be of special service on 

 account of the rapidity of its action. Lang's § methods were simplified and accelerated 

 by adding a little of the solid salt to the sea-water ; the hot solution of the salt was 

 never adopted, though it has been recommended for Sagitta, Copepoda, ScqMrina, and 

 other Arthropod larvte. In a few cases, following Carnoy || , a trace of acetic acid was 

 added to the corrosive solution. The mercuric salt was removed by subsequent washing 

 — the mode of filtration was found of advantage from its speed and cleanliness — and 

 successive treatment with progressive strengths of spirit. The animals were in all cases, 

 where preservation was required, killed as rapidly as possible after capture, with a view 

 to the obtaining of good results for structural purposes. 



Tow-net collections were made throvighout the whole course of the voyage ; the total 

 number of these was, however, somewhat less than the total number of soundings, 

 because (1) soundings were sometimes taken with much speed in shallow depths, and the 

 delay of the steamer was therefore brief ; (2) tow-net gatherings could not continuou.sly 

 be obtained by night and by day, save only at intervals. During work only one net was 

 really lost through the snapping of gear belonging to the net itself, a few others, usually 

 in deep water, w^ere lost on account of the breaking of the cable upon which they were 

 attached. 



The majority of the gatherings were made in the upper strata of the water, or say 

 down to 25 fathoms ; but deep-sea nets were repeatedly used. The deepest w^ere wrought 

 at 360 and t60 fathoms on January 22, in lat. 1° 55' 5" N., long. 5° 55' 5" E. 



Prof. Chrystal's double-hooped net was used at a depth of 260 fms., but the collection 

 obtained was small. On Feb. 5, in lat. 4° 26' 7" S., long. 10° 1' 8" E., two nets were set 

 adrift at 235, 185, and 85 fathoms attached to balloon buoys in a S. ^ W. current of 

 0-54 knots ; and, again, similarly on Feb. 22, in lat. 5° 59' 4" S., long. 3° 49' 4" E., a series 

 of nets were exposed at 30, 40, 70, 100, 130, 160, 190, and 200 fms.,— the temperatures at 

 these respective depths being 6r-3 F., 59"-3 F., 57°-5 F., 55° F., 52°-5 F., 49° F., and 

 46°"7 F. ; but in heaving up, after an exposure of 7 hours, the cable snapped, and all but 

 the uppermost were lost. Three more deep-sea nets were lost by the breaking of a steel 

 rope attached to an anchor-dredge in lat. 5° 5 1' S., long. 11° 48' W., when, out of 1780 

 fms. of rope, 1675 fms. were lost together with the anchor-dredge, weighing 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 

 14 lbs. These accidents were specially to be regretted by reason of the opportunities 



* Foster and Balfour, Embryol. 

 t Journ. Roj'. llicr. Soc. n. s. ii. (1882) p. 867. 

 + Mittheil. zool. Stat. Neap. 1881, p, 5. 

 § Zool. Anzeig. 1878, p. 79. 

 II La Biol. Celhilaire, p. It.j. 



