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THE PLANKTON OF THE FAROE CHANNEL AND SHETLANDS. 345 



a sounding was first taken, then a surface haul, then a vertical haul 

 with open net, and finally a haul from the deepest area with a closing 

 net (Garstang's). Temperature records and water samples * of the area 

 fished were taken, and the mid-water net was towed out behind the 

 vessel while these observations were being made — sometimes (when in 

 deep water) for as much as five hours at a station where much work 

 had to be done. Once over the 100-fathom line, i.e. in the Faroe 

 Channel, these procedures were repeated at each 100-fathoms depth 

 down to 500 fathoms, with the omission of the vertical haul with open 

 net, this being considered unnecessary. I have found Garstang's net 

 perform very satisfactorily, and with a fine wire stand quite vertically 

 in the sea. I am aware that objections are urged against a light net 

 of this character in deep water, and Dr. Fowler used in the Faroe 

 Channel a net and wire which, when weighted, exceeded some four 

 times tlie weight of Garstang's net. I do not intend here to discuss 

 the matter, but will merely remark that my own hauls in deep water 

 agree very closely with those of Dr. Fowler, which were executed with 

 every possible care to ensure accuracy. It is with satisfaction that 

 I note this, and I cannot but think that some of the objections to 

 a light net of Garstang's pattern are more theoretical than practical. 

 Dr. Fowler has very kindly undertaken for me the superintendence 

 of a heavy net of his pattern, which I propose to use in the Faroe 

 Channel ; and until I have compared the results of this net with those 

 of the lighter net I defer any remarks as to the vertical distribution 

 of the plankton of this area. An examination of his Copepods taken 

 in his " Piesearch " work (which he has very generously placed at my 

 disposal) shows, however, how closely our results agree. 



With the mass of material accumulated during three years' work it 

 has been impossible for me to devote attention to more than two 

 groups, viz. the Eadiolaria and the Copepods. My attention was early 

 attracted to the former group on account of the great number and 

 considerable variety which occurred constantly round the Shetland 

 coasts, and because there appears to have been but little work done 

 with respect to this group in British waters. The few notes which 

 Mr. Allen has kindly given me the opportunity of publishing in the 

 Journal of the Marine Biological Association will, I hope, be amplified 

 in a separate publication. The Copepods, the study of which has 

 revealed several new forms, and extension to northern waters of many 

 interesting forms of more or less constant occurrence round the 

 Shetland coasts, will also be more fully dealt with later in a special 

 monograph. 



* Mr. H. N. Dickson, of Oxford, has lieen kind enough to undertake the analysis 

 of my water samples. 



