16 4 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



3. Field-Work and Assistance. 



My visits to the Survey -area extended over three years. In each year two 

 visits, varying from a fortnight to three weeks, were paid to the island and 

 mainland, whilst during the last year, an additional winter visit was 

 accomplished. Owing to the uncertainty of communication, no attempt was 

 made during this last trip to cross to the island, hut since the conditions of the 

 exposed mainland are similar to those of Clare Island, a fair idea of the winter 

 aspect of the vegetation of the whole area was obtained. In addition, 

 Mr. J. Adams, of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, visited the district in 

 August, 1909, investigating the island and dredging in Clew Bay. 



The dates of the visits were as follows : — 



1909. April 8-20 ; July 12-27. [August 20-27, J. Adams.] 



1910. June 16- July 1 ; September 30-October 13. 



1911. February 13-21 ; April 28-May 13; August 17-September 4. 



About one-half the time of each trip was spent on the island, and the 

 remainder either on the mainland or in dredging. Spring-tides were usually 

 selected for the former locality, when exposed or semi-exposed shores were 

 examined at low-water. As is well known, spring-tides are more useful in 

 sheltered legions than in exposed, and a greater number of rare and sub-littoral 

 species are doubtless uncovered during springs in Clew Bay than on Clare 

 Island. But since these can readily be obtained by dredging, there was no 

 object in reserving low-tides for mainland work. 



Dredging was carried out in February, May, July, and August. For the 

 more open waters I had the advantage of the ss. " Helga," of the Fisheries 

 Branch of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for 

 Ireland. The outer part of Clew Bay was explored, and a number of hauls 

 were taken further out, i.e., to the south and west of Clare Island, and near 

 The Bills, in depths ranging from 10 to 20 fathoms. A large amount of 

 material was collected, and considerable light obtained as to the nature of 

 the benthos, but for detailed study much longer time than was at my disposal 

 was necessary. J. Adams also dredged from the " Helga " in 1909, and two 

 interesting algae were found only on that occasion. 



For the inner part of Clew Bay a small sailing-boat was used ; and good 

 work was accomplished by means of a hand-dredge in 1-5 fathoms. The 

 " coral-banks " were investigated, and in quiet weather very much may be 

 learned as to the nature of the flora. The February dredgings were useful in 

 obtaining fruiting specimens of encrusting algae. In May the mass of 

 vegetation is so great that it is impossible to do more than sample various 

 localities. As the hauls of July, 1909, had provided several rare and interesting 



