390 = A. E.:; Verrill-—Marine Fauna of the Outer Banks 
Art. XLI.—Notice of the remarkable Marine Fauna oceupying 
the outer banks off the southern coast of New England; by A. E. 
VERRILL. (Brief Contributions to Zoology from the Museum 
of Yale College: No. XLVIL) 
DurinG the —., season the headquarters of the U. S. 
Fish Commission, Pro r S. F. Baird, Commissioner, were 
at Newport, R.I. The Gabdetigabon of the marine invertebrate 
fauna of the region was very effectually carried out by the large 
party employed under the general direction of the writer. Large 
collections were made in the shallower waters of the coast, both 
at the surface and along the shores, as = as by dredging and 
trawling. The new steamer “Fish . ” of 480 tons, built 
last year specially for the Fish Ss shiadion’ and fitted up with 
suitable appliances for its scientific work, was employed in the 
trawling and dredging. It was commanded by Lieut. Z. 
Tanner, U.S. N., who was also in command of the “Speedwell ”" 
last season. The writer had, as associates and assistants, for the 
invertebrata, Mr. Richard Rathbun, Mr. ig erson Smith, Mr. 
J. H. Emerton (as artist), Mr. B. F. Koons, Mr. E. A. An drews, 
Mr. Charles Bent, Mr. N. P. Scudder. Capt H. C. Chester, as 
usual, had charge of the apparatus. Wire rope was very satis- 
factorily used for the dredging and trawling. In September 
and October, three very successful trips were made to the outer 
banks, or the region where the wide area of shallow water more | 
rapidly falls off into the deep water of the Atlantic basin. 
The first of these trips was made Sept. 8d to 5th, south of 
Martha’s Vineyard, about 75 to 80 miles ag 865 to 872) 
where the depth was from 65 to 192 fathoms. The bottom was 
mostly fine compact sand, with some an ‘and with a large 
percentage of Foraminifera. The second trip was made Sept. 
12th to 14th, nearly south from Newport, 90 to 105 miles, where 
the depth was from 85 to 325 fathoms (stations 873 to 881). 
The third trip, Oct. Ist to 3d, was to the same region, but 
somewhat farther west and south, and in deeper water, (sta- 
tions 891 to 895). At all these stations, except 867, a large 
beam-traw! was used; at 867 a se “rake-dredge,” of a new 
form, was used with rood succes 
The temperature dstaredthagions owing to the violent motions 
of the steamer, are unreliable at stations 865 to 872. At sta- 
tions 873-878 the bottom temperature was usually 51° to 58° 
F.; at 879-881, it was 42° to 48° F.; at 898, 894, it was 40° F. 
All these stations are located in the region designated on the 
charts as “‘ Block Island Soundings,” and nearly all proved to 
be exceedingly rich in animal life, the vast abundance of indi- 
viduals of many of the species taken being almost as surprising 
