4 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Harbor Hatchery on Long Island and afforded facilities for breeding 
which it is hoped they may sensibly avail themselves of. The sole is, 
without question, the most delicious of the flat-fishes for the table, and 
its addition to the food-fishes of our waters would be a very valuable 
acquisition.” 
Mr. Blackford wrote as follows, under date of October 31, 1885: 
“ I received by the steamer Britannic the lot of soles which you have 
so kindly sent to this country, and I must congratulate you upon the 
success which attended their safe transportation. * * * i shall 
take great pleasure in sending you, at the first opportunity, some of 
the living amphibians, &c., which you desire.” 
The aquaria, or fish globes, used in the transport of these fish are 
of thick glass and weighty. They are 14 inches in diameter at the 
middle, 7 inches across the mouth, and hold about 4 gallons of water. 
They simply rest each on a circular wooden disk, an inch thick and 16 
inches in diameter, suspended by light cords to a stout ring, by which 
they may be hung on a hook, like a swinging lamp. A layer, an inch 
or two in depth, of fine sea-sand from the Cheshire shore covered the 
bottom of each globe, which was rather more than half filled with sea- 
water. The whole affair is simplicity itself, and would be almost absurd 
for the accomplishment of any serious purpose if it was not for its 
proved success. 
That it is not to be despised, however, is evidenced by the following 
summary of what has been accomplished with it in the service of the 
aquarium of the Liverpool Museum, as given on the placard attached 
to the pair of globes now exhibited, each globe containing a couple of 
soles * as in the experiments above recorded : 
“By the simple contrivance of suspending ordinary fish globes (the 
most convenient vessels for the purpose) after the manner of cabin 
lamps, small aquaria of considerable utility can be kept at sea as easily 
and safely as on shore. They thus supply a very convenient means 
for the observation and study of the various living objects of small size 
obtainable by the dredge or by the towing net, and also afford a pleasant 
and useful resource to break the dull monotony of life at sea. 
“ Originally designed by Captain Mortimer to facilitate his own studies, 
and for the conveyance of living American fish to the Liverpool Free 
Public Museum, they have been the means, by himself and others, of 
importing to the aquaria of that institution a considerable number and 
variety of living fish and other objects, not only from New York, Boston, 
and other parts of North America, but also from Brazil, from Chili, 
from the Mediterranean, from the West Coaist of Africa, and from the 
* These soles so effectually buried themselves in the sand at the bottom of the globes 
that it was necessary to stir them up with the hand to prove they were really there ; 
indeed, I had to do the same thing before bringing the globes to the meeting, to 
satisfy myself. This is conclusive proof of the kindly way in which they take to 
the sandy bottom provided for them, 
