SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 349 



date and were identical in every way. In general appearance 

 they would be at once termed " fine clean quartz sands," but 

 on shaking up in water it is found that a small quantity of 

 very fine mud is spread throughout. In fact, it seems to be 

 comparatively rarely that a " clean " sand is found in this 

 North-eastern area of the Irish Sea. 



Y. [8] 25/2/13. 20 miles N.W. \ N. of Piel Gas Buoy. 



A very small sample was procured at this station. It 

 consists of a bluish-black, evil-smelling mud. Under the 

 microscope this mud is seen to be composed of very minute 

 particles of quartz, along with an enormous proportion of 

 extremely fine matter, which appears to be of undoubted 

 organic origin. Carbol-gentian violet gives a distinct reaction. 

 Besides the minute quartz grains there are a number of particles, 

 white in colour, which seem to be the remains of fine molluscan 

 shells. 



This mud is probably only local and due to a slight 

 depression in the sea-floor, but more samples would require to 

 be taken in the vicinity to determine this point. 



YI. [2] 18/2/13. Near Bahama Ship. 



Two samples from this station have been obtained. The 

 first, taken on 18th February, was obtained quite close to the 

 South of the Light-ship ; the second was taken about 200 yards 

 further South on the 16th of April. A glance at these deposits 

 shows how the sea-bottom may vary, even within very small 

 areas, and proves the difficulty of trying to map out, with 

 any attempt at accuracy, the floor of the Irish Sea. 



Taking the first sample, it is found to consist almost 

 entirely of pure quartz sand. The quartz grains arc, for the 

 most part, well rounded and worn, although fairly angular 



