SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 93 



of the young fishes frequenting the shore, and no matter 

 whether they were captured at mid-day or mid-night, the 

 the food was always the same. On several occasions we 

 trawled the gullies at mid-day and mid -night with a small 

 otter shrimp net. This was found to be very successful 

 in capturing young fish, &c. 



A number of experiments were made to ascertain how 

 far the colours of certain Crustacea protected them from 

 falling a prey to the fishes. It was found that when semi- 

 transparent and dark-coloured Mijsis were put in the jars, 

 the colourless ones were eaten before the dark. Similarly, 

 when a large number of variously coloured Hippolyte (Vir- 

 bius) varians, ranging from transparent to almost black 

 were used, the transparent ones were the first to disappear. 

 Gradually the others were captured ; last of all, but very 

 seldom, were the dark ones pursued. Are the pigmented 

 forms less noticeable under the circumstances, or is the 

 pigment itself distasteful ? 



The Plankton Work. 

 (Andrew Scott.) 



The examination of the floating plankton collected in 

 the vicinity of the Lancashire coast has been continued 

 throughout the greater part of the year. A satisfactory 

 investigation of the material, and the accurate identifi- 

 cation of the organisms contained therein, is a matter of 

 considerable difficulty, owing to the large quantity of 

 debris that is nearly always present. 



Areas of the sea into which the contents of large rivers 

 flow are usually contaminated with the spoil carried off 

 the land. This finds its way into the river either by 

 accident or intention, and the period during which the 



