vi DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 
7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 
matter before the Hon. the Minister because of the fact that the ordinary appropria- 
tion available was too limited to allow of a large expenditure upon such a fishery 
expedition. No final decision was reached until 1914, when the scheme took practical 
skape and Dr. Hjort, in the fall of that year, began his researches. During his second 
season (1915) in Canada he carried out a very elaborate series of investigations, and 
several members of the Biological staff took part, including Professor Willey, Dr. A. 
G. Huntsman, Dr. J. W. Mavor, and Commander Anderson and other officers of the 
Naval Service Department. 
A series of voluminous memoirs, most of them fully illustrated, is now in the 
printer’s hands, and the results of this important Atlantic Fishery Expedition will 
be of permanent interest and value. 
As in previous volumes of the Biological Contributions, I give a brief resumé 
ot the several papers which follow, for convenience of reference, and to afford a ready 
means of knowing some of the main points set forth by the authors. 
1. Tue Winter PLankton, St. Andrews, 1914-15.—(Professor McMurrich.) 
Previous Plankton investigations have been carried on in summer; but in view 
of the importance, as a source of nutriment for marine fishes, of the minute organisms 
floating in the sea, it appeared desirable to study these organisms in winter, as well 
as during the warmer months of the year, and Mr. Arthur Calder, a permanent officer 
of the St. Andrews Biological Station, made collections from September, 1914, to May, 
1915. About twenty stations were visited regularly and suitable plankton nets used 
at the surface and at a depth of three fathoms. The depth and temperature (of the 
air and water), and the condition of the tide, were recorded on each occasion. Pro- 
fessor McMurrich points out that the collections at three fathoms depth showed greater 
abundance than near the surface; but the finer net used at the latter level may have 
influenced the result. The author grades the occurrence of the different species 
identified by him as “ abundant,” or “ frequent,” or “ occasional,” or “rare,” and a 
study of the synoptical table, at the end of the paper, gives at a glance the comparative 
results. Among the microscopic plant-forms, the sub-globular Coscinodiscus (four 
species) is most constant, but it increases in abundance as spring comes on. Next, 
hut much less constant, is Biddulphia. Chaetoceras, four or five species, occurs 
throughout the winter near the surface; but Thalassiosira and Rhizosolenia become 
suddenly most abundant in May and April. Ceratiwm and Peridinium, several species, 
were not frequent. 
Curiously enough, some familiar animal forms seemed to be absent in winter, 
euch as the Foraminifera, Radiolarians, and Infusorians, a few of the latter only 
ceeurring. Similarly Hydroids, and Echinoderm larvae, were rare in contrast to their 
fcequency in summer. Higher animals, e.g., worms, mollusks, and the like, were rare, 
one Sagitta being taken on January 1st, and a number of Plutei, and Holothurian ova 
and larvae, in April and May. Minute crustaceans form, as a rule, a most abundant 
element in the zoo-plankton, and the Copepods or water-fleas appeared during the 
winter to be most constant, very few of the Cladocera being taken (viz. a species of 
Podon about the middle of October at three fathoms depth; Temora, Harpacticus, 
Zaus, etc., being abundant or frequent, but Calani, species of which the rarest forms 
were Parathalestris Jacksoni, not before recorded in west Atlantic waters, and a 
single Halithalestris. Larval crabs and allied forms were rare, no lobster fry occurred; 
but Tunicate larvae were secured early in November and January, and Appendicu- 
larians in October. Only a few fish eggs and one small shore fish (pelagic stage) were 
obtained. 
The winter plankton in these waters would not appear to be so abundant or varied 
as anticipated; but it may be that, by using modified nets and by more extended work, 
areas of plentitude may be discovered to which the schools of young fish resort for 
feeding purposes. 
