28 



As a minimum result to the search for corals, science 

 might benefit as thus described : — 



" A most remarkable series of contributions have been received 

 from the fishermen of Cape Ann. When the Fish Commission 

 had their head-quarters in Gloucester, in 1878, a general interest 

 in the zoological work sprang up among the crews of the fishing 

 vessels, and since that time they have been vying with each other 

 in efforts to find new animals. Their activity has been stimulated 

 by the publication of lists of their donations in the local papers ; 

 and the number of separate lots of specimens received, at the 

 present time, exceeds eight hundred. Many of these lots are 

 large, consisting of collecting tanks, full of alcoholic specimens. 

 At least thirty fishing vessels were carrying collecting tanks on 

 every trip, until it became necessary to recall them because no 

 more specimens were required, and many of the fishermen, with 

 characteristic superstition, had the idea that it ensured good luck 

 to have a tank on board, and would not go to sea without one. 

 The number of specimens acquired in this manner is at least fifty 

 or sixty thousand, most of them belonging to species hitherto 

 unattainable. 



" Each halibut vessel sets, once or twice daily, lines from ten to 

 fourteen miles in length, with hooks upon them fifteen feet apart, 

 in water 1,200 to 1,800 feet in depth, and the quantity of living 

 forms brought up in this manner, and which had never hitherto 

 been saved, is very astonishing. Over thirty species of fishes have 

 thus been added to the forms of North America, and Professor 

 Verrill informs me that the number of new and extra Umital 

 forms thus placed upon the list of invertebrates cannot be less 

 than fifty." 



Steam communication with New York and Florida is 

 most important for the development of the trade. I do 

 not think I should do wrong to designate it the most 

 important subject in my Paper. 



New Providence, as a sanitarium and winter resort for 

 the Americans, has a magnificent future. As I write, I 



