672 Proceedings of the Royal Irkh Academy. 



natural protection from the swell of the Atlantic. The part of the 

 channel which forms the anchorage grounds is completely sheltered. 

 It is a splendid place for tow-netting, and easily reached in ten 

 minutes from the ferry pier. The tow-nettings were usually taken 

 during the flood tide, as the water was then quite clean and the fauna 

 less scattered. 



When the sea permitted, tow-nettings were occasionally taken out- 

 side the harbour entrance (14-18 fms.), and in Doulus Bay (12-20 fms.) 

 on the north side of Beginnis Island. There is a second entrance to 

 the harbour through Doulus Bay and round the north side of Beginnis 

 Island, but a sand-bar and shallow water render it less favourable for 

 tow-netting, besides which the main harbour channel has to be crossed 

 to get to it. 



A very small river, the Cahir, empties itself into Yalencia Harbour. 

 The great bulk of its water passes out into Doulus Bay, and only after 

 very heavy rains is its water, brownish from the peat bogs, visible in 

 the Harbour Channel. At other times the amount of fresh water in 

 the harboui" is insignificant. During heavy gales, which are par- 

 ticularly severe on this exposed coast in winter time, the harbour ia 

 completely churned iip, and the destruction of the pelagic animals is 

 very great. 



The main flood-tide runs northwards along the coast of Kerry. Off 

 Valencia Island the stream is about seven miles away, running direct 

 from the Skelligs to the Blasket Islands, A branch of the main stream,, 

 of considerable size and strength, passes along the shores of Valencia 

 Island and round Doulus Head into Dingle Bay. It is from this, 

 stream that the harboiu- is supplied. 



Sea Temperatures and Climate. 



Sea Temperatures. — Dui'ing my visits the surface temperatui'e of the 

 sea was taken on every occasion on which the tow-net was used. The 

 Misses Delap have also recorded a large number of readings from 

 February, 1896 to December, 1898. As a rule the temperatures 

 were taken from a boat, but during stormy weather from the rocky 

 shore near Reenagiveen Point. Although the readings are not suffi- 

 ciently accurate for physical observations, yet they are quite near 

 enough for biological purposes. The following table shows the tempe- 

 ratures for each month of the year : — 



