43. Notes on the Biological Work of the R.I.M.S.S. 
‘* Investigator ’’ during Survey Seasons, 
IQlO-II and IQII-I2. 
By Carr. R. B. Sstymour Sewet, B.A., I.MS., Surgeon- 
Naturalist to the Marine Survey of India, Hon. Assistant 
Superintendent, Zoological Section, Indian Museum, Cal- 
culta. 
(With one chart, X XV.) 
Up to the present time it has been the custom for succeeding 
Surgeon-Naturalists to furnish an annual report to the autho- 
rities of the Royal Indian Marine dealing with the work carried 
them during each successive survey season. These 
that all biological work by the R.[M.S.S. ‘“‘ Investigator 
has ceased, and the post of Surgeon-Naturalist been abolished. 
The Director of the Royal Indian Marine a 
proached on the matter, and he has kindly given his consent to 
the publication in future of these reports in a more suitable 
periodical. In view of the above-mentioned misconception, I 
have thought it advisable to make the following ‘‘ Notes ”’ as full 
as possible, and in consideration of the fact that the creation of 
the appointment was due largely, if not entirely, to the exertions 
of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, I have decided to submit the 
paper to that Society for publicationin their Journa 
The post of Surgeon-Naturalist was first created in the 
year 1875, at a time when the “‘ Challenger’’ was still engaged 
on her voyage of discovery. ‘The first officer to hold the post 
was Surgeon J. Armstrong: at that time, however. there was 
no survey ship capable of carrying out deep-sea soundings or 
biological investigations, and, in consequence, that officer had 
to confine his energies to shore collecting and dredging or trawl- 
ing i w water. The R.I.M.SS. ‘Investigator ’’ was 
Naturalist G. M. J. Giles, 1M.S., and since then an I.M.S. 
officer been continuously attached to the Marine Survey to 
carry on the biological observations. 
