150 CL.\SS CRUSTACEA. 



Myriads of these animalculse are to be found in the 

 salterns at Lymington, in the open tanks or reservoirs, 

 where the brine is deposited previous to boiling. A pint 

 of this brine contains about a quarter of a pound of salt. 

 These tanks are called clearers, as the liquor becomes 

 clear in them, an effect which the workmen attribute, in 

 some degree, to the rapid and continual motion of the 

 brine-worm, or the particles which cloud the liquor serving 

 for its food ; but this is mere conjecture. So strongly 

 persuaded, however, are the workmen of this fact, that 

 they are accustomed to transport a few of the worms 

 from another saltern if they do not appear at their own. 

 They increase astonishingly in the course of a few 

 days. 



It is observable that the brine-worm is never seen in 

 the sun-pans, where the brine is made by the admission 

 of sea-water during the Summer, and which are emptied 

 every fortnight; but only in the pits and reservoirs, 

 where it is deposited after it is taken out of the pans, 

 and where some of the liquor constantly remains, when 

 it becomes much diluted with rain-water. From October 

 till May, (during which time the manufacture is at a 

 stand,) a few only of the worms are visible ; but at the 

 approach of Summer, young ones appear in great 

 numbers. 



THE END. 



