A. E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands; Coral Reefs. 205 
they are often laid bare for two hours or more, at low-water of 
spring tides. But there are reefs much nearer the shore that yield 
nearly all the species found there, though less abundantly.* 
The water is so transparent in pleasant weather that objects can 
easily be seen on the bottom to the depth of 20 to 30 feet or more, 
by using a water-glass, with which nearly all the boatmen are pro- 
vided. 
But many of the reefs, which are covered at low-tide by only 1 to 
3 feet of water, can best be thoroughly explored by wading over them 
clothed only in a bathing suitt and stout boots, for the surface is 
apt to be very rough and unreliable. 
To obtain very large corals we used large and strong steel double 
grapples, made for the purpose, and worked with a rope from a 
large row-boat. 
The Bermuda lobster is often taken by the fishermen by means 
of a long-handled spear or “ grains.” But it requires considerable 
skill and much practice to use this instrument in deep water, owing 
to the strong refraction. Yet some of my party acquired great skill 
in its use. We took Octopus, large holothurians, etc., as well as the 
lobster, in that way. 
The fishermen use large lobster-traps of a peculiar form{ in which 
they also often take various fishes, Spanish-lobsters (Scyllarides), 
crabs, etc. Such traps, slightly modified and suitably baited, would 
serve admirably for the purpose of catching the rarer forms of crus- 
tacea, carnivorous gastropods, etc., living among the reefs in deep 
water. For the deeper waters, “tangles” can sometimes be used to 
advantage, but among and near the actual reefs the bottom is apt 
to be too rough and rugged even for tangles. 
* The larger and better forms of corals, gorgoniw, sponges, etc., must, as a 
rule, be obtained by the use of grapples. A form of grapples used there by the 
fishermen and called by them ‘‘nippers,’”’ is an excellent instrument for this 
purpose. It is attached to a pole about 20 to 24 feet long and is worked by a 
cord attached to the movable jaw. 
+ This was the method used by my students, during our visit in 1898. Asall 
were expert at diving and swimming, the large boat could thus be rapidly filled 
with choice specimens in much better condition than those obtained by the use 
of ‘‘nippers,” which often break delicate corals, ete. Still the nippers had to 
be used at depths beyond the reach of the divers, and for corals growing in 
inaccessible recesses and crevices ; also for objects that cannot safely be handled, 
like the long-spined Diadema. 
t See ‘‘ The Bermuda Islands,” i, p. 293, for a figure of the ordinary style of 
lobster-pot used there, and pl. xciv, fig. 1, for a figure of the ‘‘ lobster.” 
TRANS. Conn. AcapD., Vou. XII. 14 Marcu, 1906. 
