894 The American Naturalist. [October, 
General Notes. 
GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVELS. 
The State University of Iowa Biological Expedition to 
the West Indies and Florida Keys.—A somewhat novel depart- 
ure along educational lines was successfully carried out during the past 
spring and summer under the auspices of the State University of Iowa. 
A party consisting of three instructors and eighteen students char- 
tered a 116-ton schooner and spent the months of May, June and July 
in biological work in the vicinity of the Bahamas, Cuba and the Flor- 
ida Keys. The university furnished a very satisfactory equipment for 
a biological laboratory which was fitted up on board, a good working 
library of marine zoology, and also an equipment for dredging down to 
250 fathoms, and a collecting outfit for marine work. All other ex- 
penses were met by the members of the party, the entire cost, including 
transportation from Iowa City to Baltimore and return, and board for 
the entire time, being only $200 for each person. 
The first dredging was done on the Great Bahama Banks, where 
many interesting things were found. Next the party proceeded to the 
famous “Pentacrinus grounds” off Havana, where they succeeded in 
securing a quantity of the much-prized Crinoids at depths varying from 
150 to 250 fathoms. 
When it is remembered that this was done with a sailing vessel and 
without steam for hoisting, the members of the party will be pardoned 
for feeling somewhat elated over their success. 
This was the first occasion on which iron rope has been used for 
dredging at such a depth with a sailing vessel. Many persons consid- 
ered it impracticable, but Professor Alexander Agassiz thought it could 
be done. We found that the rope worked admirably and not a single 
fathom was lost during the three months of the cruise. Of course, no 
little credit is due the students, who worked manfully at the cranks of 
the hoisting machine day after day in the tropical heat. 
The expedition was accorded many favors by the Cuban Govern- 
ment, and enjoyed the time spent at Havana and Bahia Honda, a port 
some forty miles to the westward. The local authorities at this latter 
place, however, seemed to regard the party as a filibustering expedi- 
tion, in spite of the ladies on board. The shoal water collecting was 
