COLLECTING AND PRESERVING 301 



to the study of these things, and just as a guide for the 

 early part of the way, and a more simple style of work will 

 do for this. 



An outfit for gathering " Plankton," in quantity vastly 

 more than sufficient for an introductory study, can be made 

 as follows : 



A ring of stout galvanized wire, about a foot in diameter, 

 to which is sewn the edge of a conical net made of medium- 

 textured "book muslin," just like a butterfly net, about 

 two feet long. The hoop is attached by means of three 

 lengths of strong twine (whip cord) to a stouter line three 

 or four yards long. Such is the net. 



In use it is simply cast overboard from the stern of the 

 boat, the free end fastened to the ring which is always 

 there. 



The hoop sets vertically in the water, about half its 

 diameter submerged. 



The boat must proceed slowly, or the rush of water into 

 the net will crowd and injure the delicate forms in the tail 

 end of the net. 



The net is lifted about every half^hour, turned inside out 

 into a pail of sea-water, and well shaken and rinsed 

 in this. 



Now comes a piece of apparatus which is a little more 

 complicated, but still very simple, and which can be made 

 at home. There are more elaborate arrangements, but I 

 will describe my own, which has served for many years, 

 and I wish for no better one. 



A glass pickle jar to hold about half-a-gallon, to begin 

 with. 



To this fasten a strong cord, in the form of a handle, 

 like that of a pail. 



A good, deep, tight-fitting cork is obtained to fit the 

 mouth. Through the cork two holes are neatly bored, 

 about three quarters of an inch in diameter. In one of 



