6 I. IJIMA : HEXACTINELLIDA. I. 



Topography of the Sagami Sea. 



(PL XIV.) 



As before indicated, by far the greater number of the 

 Hexactinellids to be described in the sequel are from the Sagami 

 Sea ; and since I have made it a point to state the locality of 

 specimens as much in detail as possible, it seems desirable, for 

 the sake of future reference, to give some notes on the topo- 

 graphy of that sea, which, as the domain of work of the Misaki 

 Marine Laboratory, is fast increasing in zoological interest. 



The name, 'Sagami Sea,' is applied to that expanse of 

 water on the Pacific side of middle Japan, which is partially 

 circumscribed on the west, north and east by the coasts of the 

 Provinces of Izu, Sagami and AAva resj^ectively, and on the 

 south by Oshima or Vries Island. The northern portion of the 

 sea, so far as it is inclosed by the concave shore-line of the 

 Province of Sagami, is known as Sagami Bay. On the eastern 

 side the sea leads in a northerly direction into the Gulf of Tokyo 

 through the Uraga Channel. Between the latter and Sagami 

 Bay juts out from the north the Peninsula of Miura, at the 

 southern end of which lies the fishing town of Misaki. At 

 about two kilometers' distance to the north of this town and on 

 the west coast of the Peninsula, is situated the Marine Laboratory 

 of the Imperial University of Tokyo. 



The Kuroshio, or Black Stream, sweeps up in a north- 

 easterly direction outside of Vries Island, and under the southerly 

 winds which prevail during the summer months, its waters, 

 characterized by a deep blue color and crystal transparency, 

 extend up into the Sagami Sea, sometimes as far as to Misaki. 



