In collaboration with the study of fauna and biogeography outlined 

 below, physical oceanography studies will be completed by pH measure- 

 ments, estimation of dissolved oxygen, &c., and in general by a more 

 detailed analysis of the various physical and chemical factors of sea-water. 

 In the same way the study of the sea-bottom will not be confined to taking 

 samples of the material of the sea-bottom, but will include systematic 

 study of the samples ; classification of sands by granulometry, pH of 

 muds, and so on. 



Study of the Sea-bottom 



Up to the present the numerous samples taken for study of sedi- 

 mentation and of the characteristics of the sea-bottom apart from the 

 collection of samples of fauna have not all been fully used. Although 

 some of the material has already been assembled, the preparation of a 

 chart showing the nature of the sea-bottom in the coastal zone of Indo- 

 China is a task still to be undertaken. A chart already published of 

 trawling bottoms has given some useful information for the fishing 

 industry. Co-ordination of this work, which is at present in progress, 

 will make it possible to draw up a new working programme showing the 

 gaps to be filled, particularly as regards improving our knowledge of 

 fishing bottoms. 



In a related field observations are to be resumed of the under-water 

 relief of the coast-line (study of the submarine valley of Mekong, and 

 study of the old continental relationship between Indo-China and the 

 Netherlands Indies). Also soundings are to be taken at certain points 

 at present very little known (such soundings have previously enabled 

 corrections to be made to charts of the Spartly Archipelago). 



Biological Oceanography 



Continuing the plankton fishing by day and by night which has been 

 regularly undertaken- since 1936, nearly one thousand takings of plankton 

 were made between 1939 and 1942. The general results of sorting are 

 now in course of publication. The collections thus made have not yet 

 all been studied. Some, however, have already formed the subject of 

 publications, and Professor Page's study on Cumacea illustrates their 

 interest. (A paper for presentation to the Congress gives a deeper 

 insight into the working of this section of the laboratory.) 



Faunal Studies 



One of the principal activities of the Oceanographic Institute of Indo- 

 China is the preparation of an inventory of the marine fauna of Indo- 

 China by the establishment of collections. These suffered a great deal 

 at the hands of pillagers during the war period. The establishment of 

 a museum for the systematic classification of these collections is now in 

 progress. So far, the collection of fishes made by Drs. Chevey and 

 Durand has been reconstructed ; it contains over nine hundred species 

 (about four thousand specimens). 



The collection of Coelenterata has not yet been resumed, but those 

 consisting of molluscs and Crustacea have been considerably enlarged ; 

 more than ten thousand specimens are listed, belonging to about eight 

 hundred different species. It would be premature to make any general 



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