8 THE director's REPORT. 



the Eddystone. Sipunculus nudus, thougli recorded from tlie 

 breakwater, has not been found by us, but a PhascoUon (sp. incert.) 

 is not uncommon in shells of Dentalium, Tarritella, and Aporrhais. 



Ascidians are exceedingly numerous within the Sound, especially 

 the composite forms. Of the simple Ascidians the beautiful 

 Olavellina lepadiformis is not uncommon beneath rocks and in tide 

 pools. Styela grossularia, a small red Ascidian not mentioned in 

 Mr. Heape's list, covers rocks, stones, and wooden posts. Various 

 species of Ascidia, Cynthia, and Molgula have been collected, and 

 Cio7ia intestinalis has to be added to the previous list. The Ascidise 

 compositee are ubiquitous, and are being specially investigated by 

 Mr. Garstang. The commonest form, Aplydium fallax, which covers 

 stones and wooden piles with red fleshy masses, is not mentioned in 

 the list published in August. 



It is not necessary to enumerate over again the fishes given in 

 Mr. Heape's list. The species there recorded have been taken, and 

 most of them are commonly taken in Plymouth Sound, and there is 

 nothing to add, except the occurrence of a peculiar Siphonostoma, 

 one of the Lophobranchii, in zostera beds in Cawsand Bay. This 

 little pipe fish is coloured bright green, and has the habit of holding 

 itself upright amongst the waving leaves of the zostera, which it 

 mimics to perfection. 



This account does not pretend to be a complete list of everything 

 taken in the Sound during the past year, it is only an indication of 

 the animal forms which can with certainty be procured at a short 

 distance from the Laboratory and in all weathers ; for there may be 

 days and even weeks when south-westerly gales prevent any 

 dredging outside the shelter of the breakwater. Further to sea, 

 and along the Devonshire and Cornish coasts, one meets with an 

 abundance of marine life, unrivalled in any other part of the British 

 coast. Were the Association possessed of a suitable steamboat these 

 rich localities could be constantly visited, and what is more impor- 

 tant, an enormous mass of evidence relating to the physical conditions 

 of the Channel and to sea fisheries could be collected. A special 

 fund for the purchase of a steamboat was started in July, and has 

 reached the sum of nearly £500, chiefly through the generosity of a 

 few individuals. But a sum of at least £1200 is required to 

 purchase a boat strong and seaworthy enough to resist the heavy 

 weather so frequently experienced in the Channel, and a further 

 annual sum will be required to meet the annual cost of maintaining 

 it. The experience of those resident at Plymouth shows how urgently 

 a steamboat is required, and I would appeal to all those interested 

 in marine biology and in our fisheries to give their assistance to the 

 Association for this purpose. 



