1901.] MOLLUSKS FROM THE PERSIAN GTTLF. 339 



In October last a rough survey was made by the Indian 

 Government Telegraph-steamer 'Patrick Stewart' (Capt. W. 

 A. Tindall), outside the 100-fathoms contour, between Jask and 

 Muscat, including the great bight to the south and west of the 

 direct line between those two places. 184 soundings were taken, 

 the greatest depth attained being 1785 fathoms (mud) in lat. 24° 

 12' N., long. 5S° 32' E. 



Except on the direct course between Jask and Muscat, no 

 soundings were taken at night, the strong currents experienced in 

 those localities rendering it impossible to obtain correct positions 

 for each sounding when the land was not visible. 



The procedure followed was to put down a mark-buoy at dusk, 

 when the last position was taken, and then to anchor the ship close 

 to it with a large deep-sea trawl, and in the early morning draw it 

 over the bottom by steaming ahead or astern for about an hour. In 

 this way a good deal of material was collected, and all the shells 

 have been sent to Mr. Cosmo Melvill, who, as opportunity offers, 

 is working them out. 



A fish-trap was each time attached to the moorings of the mark- 

 buoy, and by this means some fish, crabs, &c, were obtained, 

 which have been sent to the British Museum. Mr. Boulenger, 

 F.B.S., has written a short paper on them which will be published 

 in the ' Annals and Magazine of Natural History.' 



The following are the positions where the trawl was put down, 

 with the soundings, &c. noted : — 



Lat. 25° 22' N. Long. 57° 47' E. Soundiug 225 fms.; bottom mud. 



„ 25 24 „ 57 27 „ 243 „ 



14 „ 198 „ ,, & mud-worms 



03 „ 500 „ 



56 „ 225 „ 



5 „ 179 „ „ & dead shells 



35 „ 205 „ 



05 „ 142 „ 



The drag made in .500 fathoms unfortunately was without much 

 result, as the net fouled the frame of the trawl in lowering. 



The following temperatures of the sea-bottom were observed : — 



53° at 425 fms. 60° at 230 fms. 51° at 500 fms. 62° at 205 fms. 

 37° at 1495 fms. 45° at 700 fms. Surface temperature 84°. 



Muscat (Maskat). — Several days were spent dredging in and 

 near Muscat Cove, in from 5 to 20 fathoms, with very good 

 results. The bottom varies considerably in nature — shingle, coarse 

 sand, fine sand, muddy sand, and weeds, sandy mud, and mod, all 

 being met with on the ground dredged over. It would be difficult 

 to say which particular kind of bottom is the best to dredge on, 

 when, as in this case, all are profitable from a shell-collector's point 

 of view. One of the most, beautiful shells in the collection. 

 larva Jhnbriolata Melv., was found here on mud, in the Cur itself. 



Rubbatt Qhaxira or Malcolm Inlet. — Reference to the Admiralty 

 Chart shows thai this is ;i deep inlet about •'» miles bride at the 

 entrance, and running inland s.l miles; the surrounding shores are 



25 31 



„ 57 



25 12 



„ 57 



24 49 



,, 56 



24 21 



„ 57 



24 05 



., 57 



23 56 



,, 58 



