112 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
PLANKTON. 
It was shown in last year’s Report that one of the most 
important things the Biologist can do to add to our know- 
ledge of life in the sea, with a practical view to the 
explanation of the movements and distribution of fish, is 
to make a systematic survey of the microscopic floating 
and drifting life of the sea, and its relation on the one 
hand to the physical conditions at the time (especially 
the temperature and salinity of the water), and on the 
other to the food materials found in the stomachs of the 
fish. 
We have continued our efforts during the past year to 
contribute our share towards a knowledge of 
this ‘‘ plankton” life of the sea round the 
British coasts. At some considerable expense 
we purchased a small hand pump, fitted on a 
stand for convenience of work on deck, and 
20 fathoms of india-rubber hose-pipe for lower- 
ing to the bottom. This apparatus 
was used on several occasions early # 
in the year, with rather disappointing Mi, 
results. It may be the more exact 
method in so far that it only gives hei 
17 U 
organisms from the definite depth to 
which the end of the hose-pipe is 
lowered, while an ordinary open tow- 
net, lowered to the depth in question 
and raised again, may show some 
small admixture of organisms from 
the water above; but, on the other 
hand, the open tow-net catches far | 
more material, and therefore gives begs 
a more complete knowledge of the \V& 
fauna. A Tow-Net. 
