The Life of CrustaceaCalman, W. T. (William Thomas)
Science
The Life of Crustacea
Calman, W. T. (William Thomas)
Crustacea
Many burrowing species are to be found by digging in the sand near
low-water mark. In addition to Crabs and other large species, many
minute forms, Amphipods, Cumacea, and the like, inhabit such localities.
The best way of collecting these is to stir up a spadeful of the sand in
a bucket of water, and, after allowing the sand to settle for a few
seconds, to pour off the water through a muslin bag. After repeating the
operation two or three times, the contents of the bag are washed out
into a jar or dish of sea-water for examination with a lens or under
the microscope.
Dredging is the most effective method of obtaining Crustacea that live
in deeper water. The dredge usually employed by naturalists consists of
a heavy rectangular iron frame to which is attached a strong bag-shaped
net. The two longer sides of the frame are sharp-edged and bevelled
outwards, so as to "bite" when the dredge is dragged along the
sea-bottom. To the shorter sides are hinged a pair of arms ending in
rings. The dredge-rope is made fast to one of these rings, while the
other is held only by a "stopping" of yarn, which gives way if the
dredge should catch on a rock, and permits it to be dragged sideways off
the obstruction. The size and weight of the dredge may vary according to
the depth at which it is to be used and the power available for working
it. A convenient size for use with a small sailing boat at moderate
depths has a frame 20 by 5 inches.
Apart from dredging, many specimens from moderately deep water may be
picked out from among the "rubbish" brought up on fishermen's lines or
by the trawl, and various Crustacea besides the edible species find
their way into Lobster and Crab pots. The true deep-sea fauna is, for
the most part, only to be reached by specially-equipped expeditions,
although specimens from great depths are occasionally obtained during
the operations for the repair of submarine telegraph cables.
The floating animals of the surface of the sea are to be captured by
means of the tow-net. This consists of a conical bag of muslin,
cheese-cloth, or, best of all, silk "bolting-cloth," attached to a
galvanized iron-ring of one or two feet in diameter, and having a zinc
can or a strong glass jar fixed to the narrow end. The ring is attached
by three equidistant cords to the towing line, and the net is towed
slowly at or near the surface of the sea. When taken on board, the
contents of the can are emptied into a jar of sea-water for examination.
The tow-net is best used when there is only enough way on the boat to
keep the net from sinking; if towed more rapidly, delicate organisms are
apt to be crushed by the pressure of the water, or the net itself may be
burst. The use of unnecessarily fine nets should be avoided. A
fine-meshed net may not capture a single specimen of the larger
Crustacea, even though these may be swarming in the water through which
it is drawn.
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