LA ESPERANZA 45 



always keen about collecting them. The dredging 

 party (Clapp, Simpson, Bartsch, Greenlaw, and 

 myself) explored the shores of a key and the 

 waters of a pass between the key and the mainland, 

 making a number of shoal-water hauls on soft 

 weedy bottom. The results were a large number of 

 holothurians, large starfish of several species, 

 some common sea-urchins, many worms and 

 anemones, and a few large mollusks. The sieved 

 dredgings later showed many small species of 

 mollusks of considerable interest. At one point 

 we discovered an old tree lying in about five feet 

 of clear water. Making fast to this, we began a 

 systematic search among the submerged trunk and 

 branches for the many forms of marine organisms 

 that seek such stations, and a notable catch of 

 crustaceans rewarded our efforts. It was here 

 that Simpson in his enthusiasm jumped overboard 

 forgetting to remove an unforgiving watch. 



Gill, with his paints and brushes, now being pro- 

 vided with material, started upon his labors which 

 never ceased during six weeks of strenuous collect- 

 ing. From this time on there was never a moment 

 during the hours of daylight, except when the 

 schooner was actually under way, that there was 



