REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 109 



the .steaiuei- proceeded lirst to the vicinity of Ciipe ISaii Francisco, 

 thence to the Gahipagos Islands, and ironi there to Acapulco. Subse- 

 quently, dredj^ings were made I'roni off (Jape (Jorrientes to Guaymas, in 

 the Gulf of California. The greatest depth of water explored was -2,232 

 fathoms. Short stops were also made at the different islands lying in 

 the course of the expedition, for the purpose of studying the land and 

 shallow-water animals and plants. While it was observed that the 

 marine fauna of this region, is not so rich as that occupying the corre- 

 sijondiug waters off" the east side of the continent, very large collections 

 were secured, and the general results obtained are of great importance. 

 Soon after this material was received in Washington the different 

 groups were carefully sorted out, and the greater number have already 

 been assigned to specialists for study under the direction of Professor 

 ^gassiz. 



One of the most important outcomes of the expedition has been the 

 determination by Prof. Agassiz, through tlie instrumentality of the 

 intermediate towing net, of the vertical distribution of the surface 

 pelagic fauna, which he considers to descend only to a depth of about 

 200 fathoms. Some forms among the bottom animals may work up a 

 distance of several fathoms, but between these levels in tlie open sea 

 he finds no evidences of life. Regarding this subject there are still 

 some differences of opinion among explorers, and further investigations 

 will be awaited with much interest. As a solution of the problem may 

 have some bearing upon the study of the habits of the Atlantic coast 

 mackerel during its migrations in the deeper water, the i^ractical 

 importance of continuing the experiments can readily be aj^preciated. 



Detailed accounts of this investigation will be found in the report 

 of Oapt. Tanner, contained in the appendix to this volume, and in the 

 publications of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, 

 Mass.* 



* Three letters from Alexander Agassiz to the Hon. Marshall McDonald, U. S. Com- 

 missioner of Fish and Fisheries, on the dredgiug operations oft' the Avest coast of 

 Central America to the Galapagos, to the west coast of Mexico, and in the Gulf of 

 California, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, carried on by the U. S. Fish Commission 

 steamer Albatross, Lieut. Cojnmander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. N., commanding. Bull. Mus. 

 Comp. Zool., XXI, No. 4, pp. 185-200, 1891. 



General sketch of the expedition of the Albatross, from February to May, 1891. 

 By Alexander Agassiz. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., x.xiii, No. 1, pp. 1-89, plates 1-22, in- 

 cluding a detailed chart of the explorations, 1892. 



Calamocriinis dioiucdw, a new stalked criuoid. By Alexander Agassiz, Mem. Mus. 

 Comp, Zoiil., XVII, No, 2, 96 pp., 32 plates, 1892. 



