Journal of a cruise in the US ship, Vincennes, to the North Pacific Ocean, China Sea, Behring Strait, etc. by William Stimpson, 1853-1855
Page 72
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Transcription
October 1853 Simons Bay probably new, of deep-water Partieno- piens, allied to Euryome - also some curious species of Leachia and Ani- thura, with numerous Amphipodo and a remarkable new genus of Cycgenoids. Of worms there was a new genus of Aphroditacee, a Euphrosye, large Eunice, a Tectw- nella, Siphonostomum and Phasco- losoma. Among the Mollusks were a true Tritonia also the genera Trockus, Pecten, Calyptrae, Modiolaris, Serebratula, Hiatella, Anomia and a great variety of Bryozoa. The most beautiful object taken was a large Astrophytus, 3 1/2 feet in diameter when extended: the Cor- atula were so abundant that they sometimes formed the rubbish a - monst which I searched for valua- bles, and a black-dotted Echinastm was sometimes found. Among polyps a Gorgonia and a Halyonim oc- curred, also a few specimens of a solitary coral, like Turbinolae. Having the use of a room ashore, October 1853 Simons Bay. conveniently situated near the water, I set up my microscope and spent some weeks in making drawings and descriptions of these animals, which were obtained by frequent wading and dredging excursions. The rocky ledges are also the fishing grounds. The fishermen are generally colored men, who go out when the weather permits in strongly built open row-boats, shaped like a sloop-of-war's launch, but much smaller. They fish either on the bottom or in said water - as the fish happen to swim, with rather small lines, single hooks, and me- dium sinkers. While at anchor on the fishing ground, the oars, which are large and heavy, are stuck oblique- ly upward out of the boat; giving them a singular appearance. Boating in Simons Bay is carried on chiefly for the purpose of lightering or landing cargoes; the boats are all heavily built, of two or three, sometimes tie tons burden, slop rigged with the