of the Fishery Boa/rd-fov Qcotlo. nd. 



features in common, the presence of Noctiluca, and other southern types 

 on the one hand, and AracJinacfis as a northern type on the other, 

 amongst many forms common to both areas, being perhaps two of the 

 most noteworthy contrasts. 



Though not strictly belonging to any special group or to any special 

 season, the pelagic mud carried about by the bottom- water plays a most 

 important part in feeding the sedentary mollusks, molluscoids, Cirripedes, 

 and other fixed types. One has only to examine the stomachs of Ascidians 

 and of edible mollusks, such as oysters and mussels, to observe the large 

 number of Infusoria, Diatoms, and other Algse, sponge-spicules, and organic 

 matter of various kinds, which must thus be swept by currents in their 

 neighbourhood amongst a plentiful supply of sand and mud. 



In the first place, the tables showing the various forms found in the 

 several nets will be given, each haul being indicated. Considerable blanks 

 occasionally occur, but in almost every instance such is due to storms, 

 since it would have been rash for a single man to venture out with 

 a small open sailing boat unless in safe weather. No opportunity of 

 utilising the services of a trained and hardy seaman, however, was lost. 

 Special remarks on the floating eggs of fishes, and on the larval and post- 

 larval fishes then follow, and lastly remarks on the occurrence and dis- 

 appearance of some of the most interesting invertebrate members of the 

 pelagic fauna will be appended. 



The number of hauls of the mid- water net during the period covered 

 by this report was upwards of 110, while the surface- and bottom-nets 

 were employed 91 and 70 times respectively. 



January. 



The diatoms and lower algoids were less prominent than in spring and 

 summer, but a considerable number were present along with a few 

 Rhizosoleniae. 



The Infusoria of this month were represented both in the surface- and 

 bottom-nets by Ceratium tripos, but they only occurred abundantly in 

 the bottom-nets. 



Amongst the Ccelenterates were fine examples of Timet. Bairdii, 

 Johnst., fully 2 inches across, a species procured half a century ago 

 at St Andrews by Ed. Forbes on the west sands after a storm ; and 

 it is recorded from Shetland and the Firth of Forth by the same accom- 

 plished zoologist, as well as from Berwick Bay by its discoverer. This 

 and other specimens were colourless, the peduncle alone showing a whitish 

 tip, and a faint brownish tinge appearing at the base of the tentacles. 

 The reproductive elements were well developed, so that it seems to breed 

 early. The hydroid stock of Tima is somewhat uncertain, but Haeckel 

 gives (for the genus) Lafoea and Camvanaria. The former is common 

 enough in our seas. It is interesting, however, that no very small 

 examples of Tima have yet been seen. Another noteworthy form was 

 Stomobracliium octocostatum, which, like the former, occurred in the mid- 

 water net. 



Another interesting Medusa was Circe rosea, Forbes, which often 

 occurred in great numbers, not only within the bay but beyond it ; for 

 instance, in the region of the Bell Rock, outside the limits. Circe 

 occurred both in the surface- and bottom-nets as well as in the mid-water. 

 This species formed one of the features of the winter months. 



Examples of both large and small Pleurobraehim were common in 

 January in the mid- water net, but they rarely appeared in the surface- 

 nets. This form, on the whole, was the most abundant Ccelenterate. 



