NORTH ATLANTIC PLANKTON. 83 



of the ship's company. By this method naturalists can 

 now obtain, at very slight expense, a series of gatherings 

 across the great oceans in every direction traversed by 

 passenger or cargo steamers. The ship's surgeon, or any 

 other officer with a taste for natural history, or who is 

 willing to take a very little trouble to help in advancing 

 scientific enquiry into the life of the ocean can, by taking 

 charge of a tow-net and a set of collecting bottles for a 

 marine biologist, help in making an interesting series of 

 observations which may lead to important conclusions.* 



As Copepoda are edible, and can be obtained from 

 the sea-water tap, the cook at sea has a new dish or, at 

 the least, a sauce to add to the bill of fare, and all sailors 

 ought to know, as was first pointed out by the Prince of 

 Monaco, that they have a possible food supply, easily 

 caught, in the sea around them. A tow-net should form 

 part of the equipment of every ship's boat, ready for use 

 in case of shipwreck ; and every ship ought to carry a 

 set of tow-nets, and collect material daily in order that 

 the biologist may more accurately map out the exact 

 distribution of organisms over the high seas, and deter- 

 mine the characteristics of the different oceanic currents 

 throughout the year. 



* If there are any such gentlemen sailing from the port of Liverpool, I 

 hope they will place themselves in communication with me by calling at my 

 laboratory in University College. I shall be glad at any time to supply the 

 necessary nets and collecting bottles, and to give the simple instructions 

 required. 



