FAUNA OF TEE ATLAN TIC COAST OF CANADA 



33 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 22a 



after a vessel under considerable headway. This covers, a greater area than a dredge, 

 and besides collecting many of the same kinds of animals it also picks up larger 

 objects and captures fish — particulary fiat fish. 



We have hitherto considered only those animals that are to be found on the sur- 

 face, or that live deeper in the sea, those that feed on the bottom, that, burrow in the 

 ocean-bed, or that creep over rocks or seaweeds. There are others that gnaw their way 

 through and destroy the timbers of wharfs and ships, as well as those that creep 

 over the surfaces of larger animals or fix themselves to definite parts of the skin or 

 gills. One step further, and the collector may find animals that have penetrated into 

 the bodies of others and have even become so completely reconciled to their new homes 

 that they could not possibly continue to live if they were set free. 



Live animals taken to the laboratory can usually be kept some time by occasion- 

 ally changing the sea-water. Better results are reached by supplying the small glass 

 aquaria with sea-weeds, gravel, &c. At Canso two coal-oil pumps were worked at the 

 station so that both salt and fresh water were supplied to the laboratory tanks, and 

 when necessary the aquaria could be thus continually replenished with fresh sea- 

 v>7ater. In this way many animals, like sea-anemones, could be induced to expand thoir 

 tentacles and give an opportunity for their study more conveniently than in their 

 natural habitat. 



The first location of the station at St. Andrews presented many special ad- 

 vantages. Its southerly sheltered situation implied, close at hand, a rich and varied 

 fauna, while further out deop-water forms were also obtained, in Passamaquoddy 

 bay and the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. Passamaquoddy bay, screened from the 

 great Bay of Fundy by a chain of islands, is a body of water some 15 miles long by 

 7 broad. The tide rises and falls about 28 feet, making an enormous difference in the 

 appearance of the shore and exerting a vast influence not only upon the habits of 

 many marine animals, but even extending to the inhabitants of the coast. At many 

 places* the falling tide exposes this depth of nearly perpendicular rocks, in the crevices 

 and fissures of v/hich may be found numerous species of invertebrate animals. At 

 other places the shore slants more or less gradually, leaving broad areas of rock, 

 gravel, sand or mud, with animals adapted to every condition. Where the laboratory 

 stood, on the east side of ' the point,' f acing Malloch's weir, the lowest tides receded 

 nearly 400 yards. With the rising tide strong currents are swept inwards, between 

 the islands, carrying hosts of marine animals. When the tide falls again numbers of 

 these are left stranded on the beach, or confined in small pools easily accessible to th« 

 collector. Approaching the large rivers that empty into the bay one finds other con- 

 ditions, varying from saline through brackish to fresh water. Turn what way he will, 

 an observer is likely to come upon the common star-fish in many colour-varieties, the sea- 

 urchin and the sea-cucumber, among echinoderms. The moUusca are abundantly 

 represented by the edible mussel, the horse-mussel and the clam, long and round 

 whelks, the purple shell, the periwinkle, and the limpet. Nereis, Arenicola, Nephthys, 

 Ehynchobolus, Lepidonotus, Amphitrite, and Linens are common representative of 

 the worms ; while crabs, hermit crabs, barnacles and sand-hoppers are the commonest 

 types of Crustacea. A good many hydroids, polyzoa, and sponges may also be easily 

 procured along shore. 



The best collecting places are reached at the period of lowest tides 

 that occur only at the beginning and in the middle of each month. At such 

 times one can wade into the water on the southwest side of the outermost limits of 

 ' the point,' near St. Andrew's, and at arm's depth feel under the projecting ledges or 

 turn over flat stones that are never left imcovered and are not accessible at other 

 periods. This is probably the best place on the coast for sea-peaches (Qynthia pyri 

 formis), but many other animals such as Nudibranchs and Sunstars (Solaster) occur. 

 In fine sand at about half -tide mark just south of ' the bar ' by Malloch's weir, I dug 

 up the only specimens of Balanoglossus and of Edwardsia yet procured at the station. 

 The north side and outer end of this bar are also good collecting places, wftere the 

 sea-orange (Psolus Fahricii) may be picked by haiid. The entrance to Katy's Cove 



