444 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [18] 



From that time the weather became unfavorable. Trips made on the 

 27th of April, and during the night from the 11th to the 12th of May, 

 proved failures, because the wind, and partly also the specific gravity 

 of the water, made it impossible to take any observations. 



The observations given above share all the shortcomings of first at- 

 tempts. On the first trip I had not taken a vertical net ; and even on 

 the second trip I had no distinct idea of the importance of this appa- 

 ratus, which I had used of too small a size. I also made the mistake of 

 neglecting to examine everywhere the deep water and the bottom. 

 Moreover, I could not count the eggs immediately, and it was impossible 

 to make them the subject of systematic observations. As regards ra- 

 tional observations of the density of the eggs, I was not fully prepared 

 either as to apparatus or as to the preliminary studies which should 

 have preceded such observations. 



Nevertheless, I am of opinion that, in some respects at least, the re- 

 sults are important. In the first place, of course, as to the methods 

 for pursuing such investigations ; but in the second place I feel com- 

 pelled by the first impressions received from these quantitative prelim- 

 inary experiments, to propound the idea, that it is principally quanti- 

 tative experiments — not only as to eggs, but also as to the floating 

 diatoms, entomostracans, &c. (all of which use their jwwer of motion 

 principally in a vertical direction) — which will bring about such a de- 

 velopment of the biology of the sea, and the trades connected therewith, 

 as we have a right to demand of science. The great problem. What 

 cycles of organic masses are fanned into life by the biological use of the 

 sun-power, to which the large sea surfaces of the globe are exposed, 

 has practically been barely approached. We know from Murray's ob- 

 servations a little as regards the life cycles of the ocean; but we do not 

 know through what long stages the parasitism of animal beings runs 

 on the light-born world of plants. We do not know whether the prin- 

 cipal cycle should be called diatom-monads, or whether some important 

 cycle still embraces the vertebrates. In all probability both is the case; 

 but quantitative investigations alone can reveal to us which must be 

 considered the principal and which the subordinate type. 



As regards the method to be pursued in this special <;ase, I would 

 state that, without a steamship suitably arranged for the purpose, not 

 much can be done; I will not, however, insist on this. 



For fishing I would recommend a vertical net of somewhat large di- 

 mensions; the best will be one with a ring having a diameter of 80 cen- 

 timeters, so that it is possible to fish a space of 0.5 square meters. The 

 net itself should almost taper off in a sharp point. It is very important 

 that one should be able to fish with this kind of net even in a somewhat 

 rough sea. 



The surface-net is not as essential; under favorable circumstances it 

 yields larger masses than can be easily manipulated. Occasionally, 

 however, it will be desirable to catch large quantities with a view to 



