A. K Verrill— Marine Fauna of New England Coast. 361 



from Nantucket, farther east than any of those of 1880 and 

 1881, while another was made to the region about 100 miles 

 south of the eastern end of Long Island, farther west than any 

 of the former ones ; the other three were in the intermediate 

 region, off Martha's Vineyard. Our dredgings, in this region,, 

 therefore, now cover a belt about 150 miles, east and west, 

 mostly between the 100 and 600 fathom lines. The total num- 

 ber of successful hauls made along this belt, in more than 100 

 fathoms, is now over one hundred. These have nearly all 

 been made with the large improved trawls ; a few have also 

 been made with a large rake-dredge. Probably no other part 

 of the ocean-basin, in similar depths, has been more fully ex- 

 amined than this region. 



The total number of species of Invertebrata, already on our 

 ■ st - "i the fauna of this holt, is about 575. This number in- 

 cludes neither the Foraminifera, nor the Entomostraca, which 

 are numerous, and but few of the sponges. Probably the total 

 list of Invertebrata, already obtained, when completed will 

 include not less than 700 species. Of these less than one-half 

 were known on our coast before 1880. Of fishes, there are, per- 

 haps, 75 species. Of the whole number, already determined, 

 about 265 are Mollusca, including 14 Cephalopoda; 85 are 

 mate; 35 are Anthozoa; 65 are 

 Annelida. 



The Steamer "Fish Hawk," with which we have explored 

 this region during the past three seasons, was built particularly 

 tor use in the hatching of shad eggs, in the mouths of shallow 

 fivers, and is, therefore, not adapted for service at sea, unless 

 in very fine weather. A much larger steamer, the " Albatross," 

 of 1000 tons, has been built for the use of the Fish Commis- 

 18 now being fitted up expressly for deep-sea service, 

 for which she will be, in every respect, well adapted, and will 

 nave the best equipment possible for all such investigations, 

 and at all depths. The examination of the bottom beyond the 

 depth of about 600 fathoms has, therefore, been deferred by us 

 Wl the completion of the "Albatross." Nevertheless the ap- 

 paratus that we have used on the "Fish Hawk" has been bet- 

 ter, in some respects, than most other vessels engaged in such 

 work have had, whether American or foreign. This year 

 improvements have been made, especially in the 

 deep-sea thermometers. New forms of traps for capturing 

 bottom animals have also been devised. The " trawl w'nnjs,' 1 

 first introduced by us last year, have been used this year with 

 great success, for they have brought up numerous free-swimming 

 forms, from close to the bottom, which could not otherwise 

 have been taken. The use of steel wire for sounding, and of 

 wire rope for dredging, has enabled us to obtain a much greater 



