60 ON CRUSTACEA FROM THE JAPANESE SEAS. [Jan. 14, 



rent-sized sieves for the purpose, and placing every thing he found 

 in a wooden tub filled with clean salt water. From this receptacle 

 T always took the specimens myself, putting them at once into 

 bottles with spirit. In working the contents of the dredge, care 

 should be taken that the hand is not used to rub or force them 

 through the sieves. The sieves ought to be shaken backwards and 

 forwards in a tub of water ; the sand or mud will quickly pass away, 

 leaving all but microscopic life behind. 



I usually kept a small canvas bag of the contents of the dredge 

 previous to its being examined and just as it came up. If hung up, 

 the contents of the bag soon harden and dry ; it takes little room, 

 and frequently contains interesting subjects for microscopic exami- 

 nation. 



Generally quantities of animal life came up attached to the bag, 

 outside as well as in. It is always well to examine the bag closely 

 immediately the dredge reaches the surface. The small colourless 

 and otherwise difficult-to-distinguish forms which abound in about 

 .50 fathoms will then be more easily found by their movements, 

 whereas if left to die, which they very soon do, they are far more 

 difficuk to find. 



As the depth of water increases, so ought the distance of the 28- 

 pound lead from the dredge, so as to ensure the lips of the dredge 

 taking the bottom at a proper angle. I used a 2^-inch rope next 

 the dredge, increasing that size at 200 fathoms to 3 inches. 



The dredge was about 3 feet long by 18 inches wide. This size I 

 found most convenient, the bag being about 3 feet 6 inches deep, 

 and made of ordinary bread-bag stuff, with a good strong network 

 bag outside to protect the inner or real bag from being torn or in- 

 jured on the hard bottom. 



During the seven years I spent in Japan most of the time was on 

 the south coast, where, in consequence, the chief part of the dredg- 

 ings were obtained. In 18/1, however, I had an opportunity of 

 dipping into the cold stream from the north, as it flowed past 

 the north and north-east coast of Yedo. The temperature of this 

 stream was 36° to 39° F. in the month of August, whereas that of 

 the Kuro Siuvo or equatorial current, a small portion of which enters 

 the Sea of Japan by the Korean Strait and passes out to the Pacific 

 by the Tsuga Strait, was 58° to 60° at the same time, and in close 

 proximity to the counterstream. These two currents rub together, 

 but do not mix. 



From the cold waters the most interesting things were obtained ; 

 and I feel sure there is much to be done in this particular portion 

 of the globe, which may be termed the north-west corner of the 

 Pacific. 



When practicable, I always took the temperature at the bottom as 

 well as at the surface. 



