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northern and northeastern parts of the Gulf of Mexico, between the mouth of the Mississippi river and Cedar Keys, Fla., and between the latter place and the Dry Tortugas. The investigations were all carried on with extreme thoroughness, and included many lines of dredgings across the fishing grounds to ascertain the character and richness of the fauna occupying them, upon which the abundance of the food fishes must depend.
 
One hundred and ten dredging stations (serial numbers 2311 to 2420, inclusive) were made, in depths of 21 to 1467 fathoms, the deepest series, ranging from 730 to 1467 fathoms, being located directly south of Mobile, Ala. Capt. Joseph W. Collins was in charge of the practical fishery investigations, and Mr. James E. Benedict, chief naturalist, assisted by Mr. Thomas Lee. Dr. T.H. Bean, Curator of the Department of Fishes in the National Museum, also accompanied the steamer during the first half of the cruise. An account of the material obtained will be found among the accessions. 

During the first week in June, the Albatross made a short fishing trip to the edge of the Gulf Stream, off Cape Hatteras, N.C., bringing back a small but interesting collection of marine invertebrates.

Mr. Henry Hemphill continued his collecting in southern Florida during the past three or four months of the year, and has contributed a large amount of interesting material obtained from the reefs and shores about Key West. The collection he sent in contains many species, mainly of Crustaceans, Echinoderms, corals, and sponges, the smaller and less readily obtained forms composing a