The Canadian Ilarine Biological Station. 311 



forming pebble, sand, and mud bottoms, while numerous 

 trap dykes afford rugged reefs and ledges." 



Under these favorable conditions the investig-ator seeks 

 the desired information by all means in his power. Col- 

 lecting at low tide the numerous littoral forms so abund- 

 ant in the tide-pools, under the rocks, and in the mud and 

 sand exposed by the receding water, securing by means of 

 the tow-net the smaller drifting and swimming organisms 

 — the plankton and nekton — on or near the surface, 

 dredging at various depths the more stationary and inac- 

 cessible forms, examining the haul of the fisherman, and 

 the contents of the fishes' stomachs — such are the more 

 important methods of ascertaining the habitat and mode 

 of life of the organisms, and of securing material for future 

 identification and investig;ation. 



With regard to the fauna of this region, a correct con- 

 ception may perhaps best be gained by a comparison with 

 that of Vineyard Sound and the vicinity of Cape Cod, so 

 thoroughly worked out by Gould and by A'^errill and Smith. 



It may be said in general that the New Brunswick fauna 

 is less rich and more Arctic and Boreal in character, being 

 intermediate in these respects between those of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Coast and the Grulf of St. Lawrence. 



This is obviously due to the lower temperature of the 

 water and the diminished influence of the Gulf Stream, to 

 which the waters of Vineyard Sound owe not only their 

 increased temperature but also many of their characteris- 

 tic types — more especially numerous pelagic animals, 

 which are directly transported by its currents. 



Other factors,^ as noted by Dr. Stimpson, are the great 

 depth of the water on the Maine and New Brunswick 

 coasts, and the thick fogs so prevalent in this region. He 

 states that " the surface temperature of the sea is 15" — 20^ 

 lower than in Massachusetts Bay at the same time," which 

 latter, according to Verrill, varies in August from 66° to 

 72^' F. 



