MARINE AQUARIA 



often many forms of plants and animals may be found in a limited space. 

 It is necessary to have some experience in collecting, as localities passed 

 over by the novice as devoid of specimens may yield an abundance to 

 the experienced collector. A thorough examination of the whole area 

 should be made, the seaweeds lifted, submerged woodwork examined, 

 stones overturned, and every rock, depression and cavity explored with 

 both the net and the fingers. 



A light basket with shoulder-straps, containing a number of large- 

 mouthed bottles and jars, a shrimp net, a pole with a strong iron point at 

 one end and a detachable garden rake for the other, a coldchissel and 



hammer, hip boots and felt gloves to protect from 

 the sharp edges of mussels and the slippery foot- 

 ing and concealed crevices, will be desirable; and 

 for use in a boat, a dragnet, constructed of an 

 iron frame 24 by 8 inches, with hoop-iron scrapers 

 on the longer sides will be useful. This dredge, 

 Fig. 226, will collect sponges, worms, anemones, 

 corals, molluscs, shrimps, crabs, fishes and often 

 the rarer deepwater plants. Anemones and coral- 

 FiG. 236. Dredge net. [[^q^ should be taken with the smaller objects to 



which they adhere or a piece ot it removed with the chissel, but when this 

 cannot be done they should be carefully removed with a paper knife or 

 with the finger nails, so as not to injure their bases. 



Fishes may be taken in a net, the simplest being an iron hoop and 

 netting attached by a rope to a long pole and baited with a broken clam, 

 or the wire netting lobster trap. The flat fishes lie under the sand 

 and are usually taken in the dragnet. 



A constant observation of the tide should be kept, as its unob- 

 served advance is often dangerous to the collector. 



Transporting Marine Catches. The best forms of jars are 

 wide-mouthed and of glass or stoneware, with tightly fitted corks 

 through which a glass tube has been passed to 

 extend two inches above and below, to prevent 

 spilling. These receptacles should be not over 

 three-fourths full of water, so that the motion in 

 transportation will change the air. Many of the 

 animals may be shipped in moist, not wet, sea- 

 weed. A thick layer should be placed in the 

 bottom of a can or box, and upon this the plants 

 intended for the aquarium, then a second layer of 

 weeds, and upon this the animals. These should 



FIG. 237. Buckland Collecting can. 



324 



