SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 351 



When the shells are examined the same evidence of motion 

 and consequent grinding on the sea-bottom is forthcoming. 

 Not a single unbroken example was obtained, and all were so 

 worn that the identification of even the larger fragments was 

 a matter of great difficulty and uncertainty. Those recognised 

 were fragments of the following genera : — Trochus, Tellina, 

 Mactra, Pecten and Nucula. The fragments of shells in this 

 deposit are much smaller than those obtained from the 

 " Hole," and do not by any means form such a large proportion 

 of the total. 



The quartz sand is, on the whole, coarser than that obtained 

 at the "Hole." The individual grains are much larger and, 

 if anything, more rounded, although the proportion of broken 

 pieces showing conchoidal fracture is higher. 



Animal remains are scarce, a few echinoid spines and 

 one small crab (Carcinus) constituting the total. 



As will be seen it is quite impossible to draw any com- 

 parison between these two samples obtained from the vicinity 

 of the Bahama Ship. Before that could be done, and before 

 any definite conclusions could be arrived at, a much larger 

 number of samples would need to be taken. It seems to me, 

 however, highly probable that as the general type of deposit 

 over that part of the Irish Sea, between the Isle of Man and 

 England, is one consisting, for the most part, of almost pure 

 quartz sand, it is more than likely that the sample taken at 

 the Bahama Ship in April represents only a local bank of stones 

 and shells, and that the sample of February 18th indicates 

 more correctly the true condition of the bottom. 



YIII. [3] 18/2/13. Between Bahama Ship and the " Hole." 



This sample was taken somewhat to the North of the 

 mid-way point between the Bahama Ship and the " Hole." 

 It consists mainly of small stones, shells, and sand (quartz). 

 The stones are smaller and much fewer in number than in the 



