41 



Samuel R. Nichols and Samuel G. Jones, both of Salem, and Rich- 

 ardson Knowland, of Marblehead were elected Eesident Members. 



THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1868. Field Meeting at Marblehead. 



According to the Programme, this meeting, the fourth of the pres- 

 ent season, commenced at the Eastern Railroad Station, at 9.15 

 A.M. ; the majority of the members and friends of the Institute who 

 attended the meeting, numbering more than four hundred persons, 

 taking the cars at the above named hour. 



Several of the members embarked on the yacht America, at Derby 

 wharf, in the early morn, to collect marine specimens by dredging and 

 grappling. The boat was headed first for the Beverly shore to re- 

 ceive Prof. S. F. Baird of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, 

 and Rev. Joshua A. Swan from Kennebunk, Me. On the way some 

 eelgrass was picked up, thickly coated with hydroids and bryozoa. 

 The whole number of persons expected being received on board, 

 the morning's work began. 



Strickly speaking, this was not a dredging, but a grappling party, 

 on their way to search the kelp-grounds in and around Salem harbor. 

 For this purpose they were furnished with a suitable grapple consist- 

 ing of an iron bar about fourteen inches long, with a loop of iron on 

 one side, and four groups, each containing four stout iron hooks on 

 the other side. By the iron loop this contrivance is attached to a 

 stout rope, while a heavy iron weight is attached about five feet above 

 the hooks. When thrown overboard the weight drags along the bot- 

 tom, while the bar comes trailing after, lying upon its side and pre- 

 senting the points of its hooks to catch whatever lies in its course. 



The yacht was sailed over kelp-grounds, the. grapple thrown over, 

 and after dragging a short distance was drawn up loaded with the 

 kelp weed. A hungry rush of eager naturalists and soon the hooks 

 were cleared, and each man sat searching the leaves, the stems, and 

 especially the roots of the weed with one eye, while he guarded the 

 material he had appropriated for his personal examination with the 

 other. This latter work was much less effectively and successfully 

 done than the former. Meanwhile the grapple was thrown again. 

 The kelp market soon became glutted. Then a more peaceful and 

 quiet enjoyment of the many fine and beautiful specimens of marine 

 animals took place. The glass jars were rapidly stocked with strange 

 and elegant forms of life, conspicuous among which were brilliantly 

 colored worms with fringed extremities. Thus was kept the promise 

 of the proverb to early birds. 



PROCEEDINGS KSSKX INST., VOL. VI. G NOV., 1869. 



