Faunistic Notes at Plymouth during 1893–4.

Abstract

The year 1893 was one of exceptional interest to the marine zoologist. During the first two months Plymouth experienced a continuous succession of heavy gales, but towards the middle of March the winds became lighter, and the sea, which had been running remarkably high outside the breakwater, subsided. From that time onwards till the middle of September we enjoyed six months of the most delightful weather,—a period, with scarcely a break, of calm seas and almost cloudless skies. Under the influence of the great heat the temperature of the Channel waters rose continuously, until in August it had attained a point unprecedented for quarter of a century; and it was of the highest interest to observe the effect of this high temperature, and of the prolonged calmness of the sea, upon the floating population of the neighbouring portion of the Channel. Numbers of semi-oceanic forms which rarely reach our shores arrived in remarkable profusion. In June the tow-nets were crowded with Salps, while towards the latter end of August they were almost choked by masses of living Radiolaria.