COLLECTING HEX. IN THE SAGAMI SEA. 26 



certain localities a species of BdeUosloma can be obtained in 

 scores. It is a great nuisance in the fisbing not only on account 

 of its 2;lutinous slime but also because it swallows the hook so 

 deeply that the snood has to be cut away in removing the fish. 

 Ghimcera and Cestracion are not seldom brought up ; and of other 

 sharks, representatives of the genera Prlstiurus, Spinax, &c. are 

 often captured in quantities. The Muraenidfe is commonly re- 

 presented by two or more species. The rest of the Teleostians 

 are mostly the large-eyed and blackish or bright red forms, 

 characteristic of the deep-sea fauna. As the more commonly 

 caught of these I may mention Scombrops, HalajpoipKyrus, Thyrsites, 

 Sebastes, Apistes, Beryx, Polynemus, Blacrurus, &c., many of these 

 genera being represented by several species. It is by no means 

 unusual that some half a dozen, sometimes as many as ten or more, 

 different species of iislaes are secured at one haul. Not that 

 certain fixed species alone take the bait, but also now and then 

 forms are hooked up that are totally new to experienced long- 

 liners and fitted to throw an ichthyologist into ecstasy. 



Next in abundance to fishes come the passively caught sponges 

 and Coelenterates. Of the former, the Monaxonids and Tetract- 

 inellids are, like the Hexactinellida, quite rich both in species 

 and individuals, some of these coming up in certain localities 

 even in vexatiously profuse quantities. That such a tiny form 

 as the pea-sized Stylocordyla can be hooked up may seem in- 

 credible but is really the fact. The Calcarea have been occa- 

 sionally brought up, mostly attached to some other objects. 

 Horny sponges have never yet been found in the Sagami Sea 

 at any depth. 



Amons the innumerable Hexactinellids hitherto obtained bv 

 means of the dabo-line there are some which I can not pass over 



