REPORT OF THE 

 YORKSHIRE MARINE ZOOLOGY COMMITTEE; 



Presented to the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, Nov. 20th, 1889. 



J. PERCY A. DAVIS, 

 Halifax; II cu. Secretary to the Committee. 



Since his appointment to the Committee for the investigation of the 

 Marine Zoology of the Yorkshire coast, a branch of research which 

 has not hitherto received the attention it deserves, the Secretary has 

 had pleasure in taking part in two excursions : the first a dredging 

 expedition from Scarborough northwards up the Yorkshire coast to 

 Whitby on the occasion of an excursion of the Yorkshire Naturalists' 

 Union ; and the second at Filey, an excursion arranged by the 

 Leeds Naturalists' Club. On the first occasion, by the kind permis- 

 sion of Major Woodall, the Committee were allowed the use of that 

 gentleman's yacht and dredging tackle, and four members of the 

 Union partook of the opportunity afforded them. The sea was any- 

 thing but calm, and consequently did not add much to the dredging 

 facilities. The trawl was an ordinary fishing-net, and perfectly 

 inadequate to the purpose, it being impossible to land anything but 

 large objects. Four casts were made, the depth varying from twenty 

 to thirty fathoms. The first brought up fish, amongst which were 

 Haddock, Plaice, Dabs, and other smaller species, with a few 

 Echinoderms, but a peculiar absence of Protozoa was noticed. In 

 the second cast there were fewer fish, more Echinoderms of the 

 common species Echinus sphcere, some Protozoa, and a few Crustacea, 

 i.e., the Common Shrimp {Crangon vulgaris), Spider Crab {Afaia 

 squitiado), Hermit Crab {Faguriis bernhardus), and the Common 

 Starfish {Uraster riibcns). The third haul was almost identical with 

 the second, with the addition of a large female Dog Crab (with 

 spawn), and a small Skate. The fourth and last proved rather disas- 

 trous to the tackle, the net catching a piece of wreckage, which tore 

 it from end to end. Nevertheless, a large number of sea anemones 

 were got up. They were perfectly white, this being due to the depth 

 from which they were dredged. A few Crustacea were found, but no 

 fish or Protozoa. Considering the appliances which they had at their 

 disposal, the Committee were fairly well satisfied with the day's work. 

 On the 14th of September, the Secretary, at the invitation of 

 Mr. Addyman on behalf of the Leeds Naturalists' Club, took part in 

 an excursion at Filey. The members were divided into two parties, 



Jan. 1890. 



