BIOLOGICAL PROGRAM 367 



1. Collection of specimens by spear, net, etc.— performance: good: coverage: adequate 

 for identification purposes. More systematic collections for stomach analysis would have been 

 valuable, but were not taken owing to insufficient diving time and scheduling difficulties. 



2. Corer for collecting substrate samples to determine identity, abundance, and distribu- 

 tion of small subsurface dwelling organisms— coverage: good: performance: adequate, but a 

 faster method designed specifically for handling the fine sediment would have saved much div- 

 ing time. 



3. Fish rake for censusing larger animals on the bottom— coverage: barely adequate ow- 

 ing to insufficient diving time: performance: fair, owing to insufficient lead time to test the 

 apparatus and modify the techniques of use for Sealab conditions. 



4. Multiple- level plankton net sled for censusing near-bottom plankton— not used because 

 of hazards from scorpion fish on the bottom near Sealab and insufficient diving time to go fur- 

 ther away. 



5. Permanent station template for independent estimates of abundance and determining 

 movements of small organisms— not used; conditions near Sealab and insufficient diving time 

 did not warrant setting up the stations. 



6. Concrete block pyramids for comparison with Sealab as environmental modifications- 

 performance: fair, placed on the bottom much later than desirable owing to insufficient diving 

 time and logistic difficulties. 



7. Wire- mesh cages for holding experimental animals— not used because of insufficient 

 diving time. 



8. Tagging larger organisms— performance adequate: coverage: poor as a result of in- 

 sufficient diving time. 



9. Chemical attraction of organisms— not used owing to insufficient diving time. 



10. General observations, outside— performance: fair, hampered by poor illumination, in- 

 sufficient lead time to develop tape-recording capability, preoccupation with other tasks while 

 diving, and lack of opportunity to dive at times selected for their relevance to scientific objec- 

 tives. 



11. General observations, inside— performance: good, but hampered by conflict of other 

 duties with maintenance of regular scientific watches. 



12. Photography of organisms— performance: only fair owing both to insvifficient lead time 

 to modify and test new equipment and to insufficient diving time. 



The inadequacies in performance and coverage were primarily due to three reasons: far 

 less time was spent in the water than was anticipated, dives could not always be scheduled at 

 times that would be best for our program, and we had very little opportunity to design, modify, 

 or test equipment or procedures under conditions similar to those around Sealab prior to oc- 

 cupation of the habitat. As a result, some projects took so much more time than expected that 

 coverage was limited and other projects had to be eliminated. Our recommendations, which 

 follow, stress these points. 



1. A greater amount of lead time should be allowed in order to develop and test equip- 

 ment. Funds for acquiring and developing equipment should be available very early in the 

 project. 



2. Diver training should put more stress on navigational problems and homing procedures. 



3. Diver-to-diver and diver-to-tape-recorder communication should be developed. 



