REPORT OF DEPARTMENT <>K MARINE INVERTEBRATES. 1!)!) 



to the latitude of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and into B depth of 

 water of 2,574 fathoms, at a point more than half way between our eons! 

 and the island of Bermuda. A large number of temperature and other 

 physical observations, bearing upon the migrations of mackerel and men- 

 haden, were made, and large quantities of the small surface organisms 

 on which those fish U'vd, were carefully collected. The abruptly dop- 

 ing bottom at the inner edge of the Gulf Stream was thoroughly investi- 

 gated at numerous places, and large collections of marine life obtained. 

 but no traces were found of the once abundant tile tish (LopholatiUu 

 chama'leonticrjts), which lirst attracted the attention of the Commission 



to this exceedingly rich region. Several lines of dredgings and of bot- 

 tom and serial temperature were carried outward from the inner edge 

 of this slope into depths of 1,000 to 2,500 fathoms, and other similar 

 lines were made to connect it with the shore soundings. The data thus 

 far obtained regarding this region are in mauy ways very complete, 

 and when properly worked up will have an important bearing upon 

 several interesting fishery problems. 



Very important discoveries from a geological point of view r were 

 made in regard to the nature of the materials composing the sea bot- 

 tom at great depths under the Cult" Stream, and a brief report upon 

 this subject has already been published by Professor Verrill. En depths 

 of 500 to 1,200 fathoms the bottom was often "found to consist of 

 tough and compact clay so thoroughly hardened that many large and 

 angular fragments, sometimes weighing more than fifty pounds, have 

 been brought up in the trawl. * * * This material is genuine clay, 

 mixed with more or less sand" and with a small percentage of the shells 

 of Globigerina and other Fnraminifera." 



The amount of zoological material obtained was very great, and some 

 of it was of much interest. Even from the deeper hauls a great variety 

 of life was obtained, and many very large ami showy species, including a 

 number of new forms. A large part of this material has already been 

 turned over to the Museum, and the entire results will soon be repre- 

 sented in our collection. 



The number of dredgings made by the Albatross, in the summer 

 of 1884, was 141, of which 49 were in depths between 100 and 1,000 

 fathoms, 20 between 1,000 and 2,000 fathoms, and 5 above 2,000 fathoms. 

 The last cruise was mainly devoted to the region lying off Cape Hat- 

 teras, and 45 dredgings were there made, in depths of 7 to (J71 fathoms, 

 with good results. The specimens collected on this trip were brought 

 directly to Washington and sorted and catalogued in the Museum. 



At the close of 1884 the Albatross is making preparations for an- 

 other cruise to the Gulf of Mexico to investigate the important fishing 

 grounds bordering the coasts of the Southern States. It is expected 

 that she will also make valuable additions to her collections of the pro- 

 \ iona winter. 



