The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-23
SarSaparilla

party consists OF DR.. Bishford Dean, a.
rector of the party; q. y. Calkins. Is. c.
Griffin and ~. r. Harrington. all instruct
ors in the university.
Particular objects OF the expedition are
to obtain material for original investiga-
ton on the part OF the members of the uni
versity, 70 add specimens TO the museum
and to increase the teaching collections
OF the New York laboratory. A number
OF very interesting forms are already
known 10 occur in the vicinity OF Port
Townsend, forms that are not known 10
occur in any other region. forms which
are OF the very greatest Importance TO
naturalists In all parts of the world. Thus
the rat fish, which are exceedingly com
mon here, a nuisance. in fact IN laeal
fishermen. is OF great scientific inter
est: the sole survivor OF a large group
OF fishes which became extinct ages ago
a form thought by many 10 closely re-
semble the ancestry OF the large family
OF sharks. Then, again, many of the
forms which are found so common at Port
Townsend and vicinity are exceptionally
large in size. so much so, in fact, that they
are splendidly adapted for dissection by
students. Thus, one particular moliusk.
which is usually given 10 the student as
measuring one inch long, in this locality
attains length OF six inches. The party
has already established its headquarters
near the sawmill. in the lower end of the
town, near the water front. and is making
daily excursions to all points in the i'm
mediate vicinity. collecting fishes OF all
kinds. worms. shells, crabs. and not ex-
cepting the big devil fishes which are
abundant on the Sound. At the labora-
tory today a great octopus was dissected,
which measured in length ten feet from
tip TO tip. Some very rare and important
specimens have been found, and the SCI
entists are very much elated at their sue
cess. Mr.. Calkins has discovered the very
rare dicyema. a curious little parasite OF
the devil fish family. which is believed to
represent the connecting link between the
lowest forms OF life and the group of jelly
fish, and has never before been found on
this continent or this side of Naples.
The party expects 10 remain in Port
Townsend two months. visiting Hood canal
and the various tributaries of Puget sound.
A steam launch has been engaged TO take
the party to points of interest. Or. Dean
and his co-laborers are very enthusiastic
over the field, saying that without doubt
much rare and altogether unknown marine
animal life win be found that will be OF
special interest to students of biology.
Their laboratory is crowded with instru-
ments. nets, fishing tackle, crockery, MI
croscopes, chemicals. and Is abundantly
lighted by electric lights. The interest OF
local fishermen has been aroused and par
ticular pains will be taken 10 collect and
preserve for inspection all animal life that
may be found in the nets that are dropped
in the Sound and near Cape Flattery. DIR.
Dean. though a young man, scarcely "a
years old, is one OF the most eminent
scholars in his profession in the United
States, the author of many we'll written
scientific papers and a scientist of ma
tional reputation.