154 Marine Microbiology 



of the samples were also examined for mesophilic bacteria by a 

 35 C plate count with tryptone-glucose-extract agar and for coli- 

 form bacteria with desoxycholate lactose agar. Only two samples 

 had fewer than one mesophilic organism per gm whereas 

 twent)' were negative for coliforms. Of these 34 samples, thermo- 

 philes were present in twenty-one in numbers ranging from one 

 to 2,200 per gm. The soil samples showing the greatest numbers 

 of thermophilic bacteria were from areas where there had been 

 either old or recent Eskimo camps. 



Fifteen pure cultures of thermophilic aerobic bacteria were 

 obtained from the Point Barrow specimens. Classification of these, 

 using the tests recommended by Smith et al. ( 8 ) , resulted in ten 

 being identified as Bacillus stearothermophilus, three as Bacillus 

 coagulans, and two as Bacillus licheniformis (5). No new species 

 were found. 



During the course of a brief biological survey in the Ross 

 Sea area of Antarctica in January and February of 1957 a large 

 number of random bacterial cultures were made in an effort 

 to determine the distribution of these organisms in Antarctica. 

 Some of these results have been published (4), whereas others 

 have not. Among the materials examined for mesophilic and 

 thermophilic bacteria were: 



1. Large intestine contents and feces of two Adelie penguins, 



one South Polar skua and two Weddell seals. 



2. Mud from an ocean bottom core taken in Kainan Bay at 



a depth of about 400 fathoms. 



3. Two samples of sandy soil from near Pram Point. 



4. Old horse manure from under the eaves of Scott's hut 



on Hut Point. This material dates from 1911-1912. 



5. Two mixtures of moss and lichens from near Williams 



Naval Air Facility and Pram Point. 



6. Three algal encrustations of rocks found in small fresh 



water ponds near Williams Naval Air Facility. 

 All of these specimens contained mesophilic bacteria, al- 

 though only anaerobic bacteria were obtained from the intestinal 

 contents of the birds and seals. No molds or tliermophilic bac- 

 teria were found in any of these materials. All of the cultures 

 for thermophilic bacteria were incubated aerobically except that 



