ZOOLOGY 



MARINE ZOOLOGY 



For more than twenty years I have spent a considerable part of the 

 summer months on board my yacht The Glimpse in the various estuaries 

 of Suffolk, chiefly at Harwich, Mistley, Pinmill, Bawdsey, Woodbridge, 

 Orford, and Aldeburgh, occupying much of my time in trawling and 

 dredging, and in collecting on the surface of the water and on the banks 

 left dry at low tide. I have never been in the district at any other 

 season, and what I say about the marine animals relates only to the warm 

 part of the year, from May to September inclusive. In hot weather the 

 temperature of the estuaries is high owing to the great extent of mud 

 banks left dry at low water, and I have known it as much as 74 deg. in 

 the Orwell at Pinmill, whereas in winter the surface is sometimes 

 frozen. I have never been out in the more open sea in very hot and 

 still weather, and the highest temperature I have observed there was 

 67 deg., but no doubt the water in winter is warmer than in the estuaries. 

 These differences must have a great influence on the kinds of animals met 

 with in the different localities and at different seasons of the year. In 

 some cases even a few weeks make a considerable difference, for some of 

 the animals might be called annuals. There is also a great difference in 

 different years. My observations extended from 1882 to 1903 both 

 inclusive, and in that period there were great changes in nearly all 

 districts. Some animals common at the earlier part were scarce or not 

 found at the later, and the reverse, but it is impossible to say to what 

 extent this was a periodic or permanent change. I hope that the 

 account I now give of the numbers and species found in the above-named 

 years may throw light on this question. At the same time it is im- 

 portant to bear in mind that much depends on the methods used in 

 collecting, living on board a yacht being very different from living on 

 shore with the occasional use of a boat. 



Characteristic Features of the Coast 



In giving an account of the marine animals of Suffolk it seems 

 reasonable to include those I have collected on the southern side of the 

 Stour at and above Harwich, though it really belongs to Essex. This I 

 examined much more because the northern side was farther away and 

 less convenient for landing. I have spent a considerable time in Harwich 

 Harbour and collected on the shore and trawled and dredged inside and 



8S 



