A. E. Verrill—Distribution of Marine Animals, etc. 357 
This appearance I now find was due entirely to the above 
explained action of the tube, and a number of carefully con- 
Art. XLVIIL.—Brief Contributions to Zoiilogy from the Museum 
of Yale College. No. XVI.—On the Distribution of Marine 
Animals on the southern coast of New England; by A. E. 
VERRILL. 
IN connection with the investigations concerning the fisheries 
under the direction of Professor S. F. Baird, U. S. Commis- 
sioner, thorough explorations of the adjacent waters were 
undertaken in order to ascertain the character of the bottom, 
and the distribution of the lower animals, especially of those 
that furnish food for certain fishes. ‘The Fish Commission had 
its headquarters at Wood's Hole, Mass., situated on the point 
of land between Vineyard Sound and Buzzard’s Bay. In addi- 
Hon to the shore collections, extensive and systematic dredging 
a 
adapted to soft muddy bottoms; an iron ch un- 
Taveled ropes, or “tangles,” were attached for use on 
bottoms; a trawl-net; surface towing-nets for swimmin 
* The dredgings in the first part of the season were made under the direction of 
eS Seats pnd lene rid saben J. E. Todd, Professor A. Hyatt, Dr. A. S. 
and the writer, all more or less aided at various times by other naturalists, 
and especially by Dr. W. G. Farlow, who : 
t Some st Ouse Gnkremtates it be described in a future number of this Journal. 
