Vol. IX, Nos. 8-9.] Biological Work of the ‘‘ Investigator.’’ 331 
[NV 8.] 
annual grant sufficient to enable the Surgeon-Naturalist to do 
more than purchase the necessary stains, microscopic reagents, 
preserving materials, etc. , hecessary for a seven-moniths’ cruise. 
Marine Survey of India. Although of a simple type and not 
fitted with any self-closing apparatus, it worked very fairly 
well and the results obtained amply pete - introduction. 
It is hoped that in the near future the R.I.M.SS. ‘‘ Investi- 
*’ will be fully equipped with nets and other apparatus for 
hydrographical research along the lines laid down ‘by the 
‘* Conseil permanent sripiem panes pourl’exploration le la mer’ 
and thus be in a position to carry out full investigations, as 
regards both the see atthe ani biological features, of the 
various regions of the Indian Ocean and its offshoots. 
n an ordinary year, the R.I.M.S.S. “‘ Investigator ’’ leaves 
Bombay about the middle of October and proceeds to the 
survey ground, arriving there about the end of the month. 
She continues to survey the coast till aboutthe middle of April, 
and then returns to Bombay, which she reaches early in May. 
During the time she is engaged in actual survey work there has 
hitherto been little or no opportunity for making collections of 
the bottom dwellers, and the work of the Surgeon-Naturalist is 
“cae confined to investigating the pian routs wee littoral 
deep-water fauna in the Arabian Sea or Bay of Bengal, as well 
as to carry out a series of deep sea soundings. At the close of 
the survey season in May, the Surgeon-Naturalist repairs to the 
Indian Museum, Calcutta, and spends the recess there working 
out the collections made, or such portions of them as deal with 
the particular group or groups of animals of which he is making 
a specia stu 
Prior to the year 1911, it had been the custom to give a 
‘* Station Number’’ only to those localities, in whic — 
water observations had been made, but during the r 
of that year, it was decided, in ; ieaaibbatios with the ahatties 
of the Indian Museum, that this system of limiting the station 
numbers to the deep-water trawls was not rp OA satis- 
factory, and that in future, as is done elsewhere, a sta‘ion num- 
ber should be given to every locality where electing of any 
kind was carried out. In see cha - e numbered 
stations for the last season shows a great ompared 
with those of any previous year. Unfortunately meter the 
—— season 1911-12 I was only able to rema he 
M.S.S. ‘‘ Investigator ’’ till the wa of Novetiber: being 
re poner to Calcutta to take over temporarily the duties 
of Professor of Biology in the Medical College. 
