17 
under liis supervision at the University shops. The plankton 
apparatus first used consisted of a peculiar conical net (Apstein 
pattern) made of No. ‘20 silk bolting cloth. This was hauled 
through the water obliquely from bottom to top, a distance of 
thirty meters, at a perfectly uniform rate, the movement being- 
timed by seconds counted with watch in band. The net was 
suspended to a carrier and drawn along a tightly stretched line, 
to which it was bung by means of pulleys, the various particu¬ 
lars of the arrangement being devised by Assistant Professor 
Smith, in charge of the plankton apparatus and the Station 
itself during the first year. In May, 1896, this plankton net 
was superseded by a band force-pump (Plate VII.), selected 
after considerable investigation of various styles, of a size and 
weight to be conveniently managed in a large skiff. The feed 
pipe of this pump is long enough to reach the bottom in our 
deepest water and the discharge pipe delivers into a straining- 
net suspended in the water from a float. To secure the contents 
of a vertical section, the further end of the feed pipe is sunk 
to the bottom and slowly raised to the surface, the pump being 
meanwhile worked by an assistant in a perfectly regular man¬ 
ner. Minor features of the apparatus and items of the pro¬ 
cedure will be described in a special paper on our Station 
methods, now in course of preparation by the Station Super¬ 
intendent. 
For keeping insect larvae under perfectly natural conditions 
but exposed to continual observation small cubical boxes were 
used, with two sides and the bottom of wood and the other two 
sides of wire gauze, and a cover of glass set in a wooden frame 
which overhangs the top of the case, fitting closely to the sides. 
These cases were placed around a large float in the lake or river 
in such a manner as to be kept about half full of water, which, 
of course, had free access through the wire gauze sides. 
The laboratory boat was amply stocked with compound and 
dissecting microscopes and a supply of chemicals, glassware, 
and apparatus for the preservation of specimens and for micro¬ 
scopical technology. It was equipped for fifteen workers, in 
addition to the Station staff. The excellent working library of 
the State Laboratory of Natural History was freely drawn upon 
for everything needed in aid of the special work in progress at 
the time, and the library appropriation of the Laboratory was 
