37 



rocks apparently conformable, and situated but a few yards away 

 under Mayfield Cottage, are all capable of being referred to 

 Carboniferous species, and that many of these fossils are also com- 

 mon to the Carboniferous Shales along the shore. It appears, 

 therefore, to me conclusive, that the rocks under Mayfield Cottage, 

 as also those under Rose Cottage, are of Carboniferous age, and 

 that, at least, for the present, they may be considered as the 

 newest of the Carboniferous Slate rocks in the vicinity of Cultra." 



After the reading of Mr. Wright's paper, Mr. S. A. Stewart 

 read a paper, entitled, " A Day with the Oyster Dredgers." 



In this paper an account was given of a cruise with the oyster- 

 fishers, on the 6th February, 1868. Mr. Stewart was accompanied 

 by two Members of the Club interested in marine zoology, and 

 went to Carrickfergus by train leaving Belfast at 8 a.m. On 

 arriving at Carrick, it was found that all the dredging smacks were 

 gone out, save one. This was a good and trusty vessel, " The 

 Hope," Capt. Bishop, which had been detained on account of 

 not having hands to work the dredges. We were at once received 

 on board as volunteers, and made welcome to work our passages. 

 The smack was manned by the captain and one hand, assisted by 

 the three Members of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club as 

 volunteers. The morning was very calm, so that we had to pull 

 " The Hope " out of the harbour by the aid of the huge oars that 

 these boats always carry. In halfan-hour, however, we were 

 relieved by a stiff breeze from the north-east which then sprung up, 

 and increased to such an extent as to be felt by us landsmen as 

 almost too much of a good thing. After tacking several times, we 

 were shortly off Whitehead, and in a position to commence the 

 work of the day. Opposite Whitehead, the boat was put aboit, 

 and the dredges "shot." It was fortunate for our captain that 

 the breeze was so strong, as the five heavy dredges that were put 

 out would have effectually anchored the boat in a light wind. The 

 bottom selected for dredging on this day was from Whitehead to 



