_ Expeditions off the Coast of New England 201 
cold current is very apparent as far west as New Haven, in the 
deeper parts of the sound.* This cold water is doubtless de- 
rived directly or indirectly from the arctic current that flows 
southward along our Atlantic coast; but its flowing into Long 
Island Sound may be due largely to the influence of the tidal 
currents, modified by the local wind currents. On the other 
and, the much higher temperatures of such enclosed localities 
as the Peconic Bays may be safely attributed to the direct heat 
of the sun over a broad expanse of shallow water, from which 
the cold currents are excluded. 
Improved methods of preserving specimens.—During the sum- 
mer humerous experiments were made by members of the 
party, but more especially by Prof. W. N. Rice and the writer, 
to ascertain the effects of various chemical preparations upon 
marine invertebrates. The special objects were: Ist, to improve 
the methods of preserving specimens for museum purposes, or to 
devise new methods; 2d, to ascertain the best means of killing 
mm an expanded state species that ordinarily contract badly 
when put directly into aleohol. Besides numerous negative 
results, several of value were obtained. ume very per- 
fect and beautiful preparations of Actinie (chiefly Metridium 
expand. When fairly dead they were transferred to a pure 
mens may usually be placed alive directly into the acid, o 
ngth, E opsii 
osmic acid we did not succeed so well, for the asec con- 
tracted more, and finally became so darkly stained as to render 
them useless. : 
Hydro-chloral was also experimented with. It proved to be 
useless as a permanent preservative of marine invertebrates, as 
it apparently had a caustic or solvent action, and all the soft 
parts gradually dissolved, but without putrefaction. It was, 
*The followi per 17th, a short distance off the 
of the’ Whitable lelanda’ Stow miles east of New Haven: surface 454°, 
st 1 P. 4, wind southerly, tide 4 hours ebb, sky clear; bottom 434°, in 5 fathoms, 
rocks and mud; surface 48°, at 5.30 P. M., tide two hours flood. 
