Oak Street 
 
 UNCLASSIFIED fNIVERSITY OF 
 
 suu iHERN CALIFORNIA 
 BULLETIN 
 
 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 
 Volume IX JANUARY, 1915 
 
 Number 6 
 
 THE VENICE 
 
 MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION 
 
. . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
OF THE 
 
 UNFVFttSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 „ F£B1b15 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
 BULLETIN 
 
 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 
 Volume IX JANUARY, 1915 Number 6 
 
 THE VENICE 
 
 MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION 
 
 Published Bi-Monthly by the University 
 Entered as Second Class Matter under Act of Congress, July 16, 1894 
 Los Angeles, California 
 
THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS— 
 
 Thirty-fifth Street and University Avenue. 
 
 COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS— 
 
 516 East Washington Street. 
 
 COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY— 
 
 Sixteenth and Los Angeles Streets. 
 
 COLLEGE OF LAW— 
 
 Tajo Building, First Street and Broadway. 
 
 COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY— 
 
 Thirty-fifth Place and Hoover Street. 
 
 COLLEGE OF PHARMACY— 
 
 Thirty-fifth Street and University Avenue. 
 
 COLLEGE OF MUSIC- 
 
 233 South Broadway. 
 
 COLLEGE OF ORATORY— 
 
 Thirty-fifth Street and University Avenue. 
 
 COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS— 
 
 201 North Avenue 66. 
 
 THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION— 
 
 Venice, California. 
 
 SUMMER SESSION 
 
 The Summer Session of the College of Liberal Arts and the 
 Venice Marine Biological Station will be held June 28th to 
 August 9th, 1915. 
 
 The Liberal Arts courses will be given at the University, 
 the Marine Station courses at Venice. 
 
 Special announcements of the courses may be obtained 
 from the Registrar of the University. 
 
OFFICIAL STAFF 
 
 VENICE MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION 
 
 ALBERT B. ULREY, A. M., Director . 
 
 SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE, PH. D., Associate Director . 
 
 ADVISORY COUNCIL 
 
 GEORGE F. BOVARD, A. M., D. D., LL. D. 
 President of the University 
 EZRA A. HEALY, A. M., D. D. 
 
 President of the Board of Trustees of the University 
 ABBOTT KINNEY 
 
 President of the Abbot Kinney Company , Venice , California 
 GENERAL M. H. SHERMAN 
 Capitalist 
 
 ARTHUR B. BENTON 
 
 President of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 
 GEORGE I. COCHRAN, A. M. 
 
 President Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company 
 WALTER LIND LEY, M. D., LL, D. 
 
 President California Hospital Association 
 
 INSTRUCTORS 
 
 GEORGE F. BOVARD, A. M., D. D., LL. D. 
 President of the University 
 ALBERT B. ULREY, A. M. 
 
 Professor of Zoology 
 ANDREW C. LIFE, A. M. 
 
 Associate Professor of Botany 
 SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE, PH. D. 
 Associate Professor of Zoology 
 LAIRD J. STABLER, M. S. 
 Professor of Applied Chemistry 
 LEROY S. WEATHERBY, PH. D. 
 Professor of Chemistry 
 GILBERT E. BAILEY, PH. D. 
 Professor of Geology 
 
 ELMER HIGGINS 
 Instructor in Zoology 
 
 MERVIN E. OAKES DORIS P. COOMBER 
 
 Laboratory Assistant in Zoology 
 J. ROSS BECK 
 Collector for the Station 
 
 Laboratory Assistant in Botany 
 FRANK W. YOCOM 
 Assistant Biological Survey 
 
THE VENICE 
 
 MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION* 
 
 Previous reports have dealt with the problems of founding 
 and equipping the Marine Station of the University. In this 
 report is indicated a preliminary account of some of the 
 results attained, referring particularly to the work of the past 
 two years. The fragmentary character of the results is fully 
 appreciated by the workers engaged in these investigations. 
 Pioneering, however, in any enterprise seldom produces re- 
 sults which are, from the beginning, other than incomplete. 
 
 We have this satisfaction concerning the work in which we 
 have been engaged: It has been most helpful to the biological 
 work of the University by stimulating an intense interest in 
 the study of problems relating to living things and it has 
 afforded an opportunity for such study which could scarcely 
 have been attained in any other way. These results alone 
 would be ample compensation for the effort and means in- 
 vested. In addition to this, however, we have some small 
 contribution of first-hand knowledge to offer and have pre- 
 pared the way for securing results of much greater value. 
 
 Most of the work has been done by those who were busily 
 engaged in other pursuits. This has necessitated using the 
 vacation periods of the college year chiefly for Marine Station 
 work and the funds available did not warrant working full 
 time then. 
 
 It would have been impossible to accomplish the results 
 attained except for the fact that we were able to use the 
 energy and enthusiastic devotion to a scientific goal found in 
 the students and instructors of the University. This is par- 
 ticularly true with reference to operating and caring for the 
 launch. No service was too severe or task too difficult for 
 these volunteer sailors to undertake. The fact that the launch 
 has sailed without mishap many times over the sea from Point 
 Dume to Newport and out at sea to Catalina and San Clemente 
 
 *The matter here presented consists chiefly of extracts from reports of 
 the Director of the Station to the Board of Trustees of the University. 
 
Venice Marine Biological Station 
 
 5 
 
 islands and has visited San Diego, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, 
 and Santa Barbara islands, speaks eloquently for the amateur 
 seamanship of these men. 
 
 The list of men to whom credit is due for service on the 
 launch is too long to publish here in full. The following have 
 given special time and service to the work. The responsibility 
 for carrying into execution the work of the Anton Dohrn has 
 been borne by Percy S. Barnhart and J. Ross Beck during the 
 period November, 1912, to June, 1914; since that time by 
 Elmer Higgins and J. Ross Beck. Student assistants who 
 have given considerable time and have rendered efficient 
 service are: Walter Hepner, Henry Wheeler, Ervin Wahren- 
 brock, Mervin Oakes, Frank Yocom, Ernest Trevor and Allen 
 Hobbs. 
 
 During the summer of 1914 a line of dredging and trawling 
 has been completed which connects our present north west 
 goal, viz., Point Dume with the work done off the coast at 
 Long Beach. This affords a series of hauls at most points 
 off the coast for a distance of about sixty miles. In addition 
 we have made further explorations in the region about Catalina 
 Island and the launch has been used in the work of the U. S. 
 Fish Commission during an investigation of problems relating 
 to the albacore industry. The list of sailings will be found 
 elsewhere in this report. 
 
 The equipment of the station has been described in the 
 Station Bulletins for November, 1910, and January, 1913. 
 During the past year we have added a new general laboratory 
 and office for the advanced students at the station. The 
 laboratory has been equipped with the necessary apparatus 
 for carrying on this work. The launch has been improved 
 by the addition of numerous facilities which add to the com- 
 fort of the crew and efficiency of her work. The most useful 
 equipment recently added was a centrifugal pump with suit- 
 able hose, two inches in diameter, for throwing a stream of 
 water to any point on the deck. The pump is located in the 
 engine room and is driven from the fly-wheel of the engine 
 by a belt which is readily removed when a stream of water is 
 not needed. 
 
6 
 
 University of Southern California 
 
 On long voyages there has been constant difficulty experi- 
 enced in carrying living specimens in the tanks. This has 
 happily been met by the use of the pump which provides a 
 constant stream of pure water. The speed of the launch is 
 not appreciably effected by this continuous use of the pump 
 and the value to the living material is very great. The chief 
 use of the pump, however, is found during dredging and 
 trawling. The hauls containing specimens, mud and debris 
 are placed on the series of screens. Here a careful application 
 of the flowing stream of water separates the mud from the 
 specimens in a very efficient manner. The nets can be freed 
 from adhering specimens and mud, as well as the deck cleared 
 after the process is completed. 
 
 THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
 
 The field covered by the survey, except the Catalina region 
 and shore collecting, is indicated by the Maps, Plates I, II, 
 and III. The points at which the dredge was used are repre- 
 sented by the letter D and the trawl by T. The numeral fol- 
 lowing each indicates the number of the haul of the dredge or 
 trawl respectively. The dredging and trawling was all done 
 with the station launch, the Anton Dohrn. A description of 
 the launch and its equipment was published in the Bulletin of 
 the University for January, 1913. 
 
 One hundred six stations have been dredged and trawled 
 and a series of shore collections made at points within 
 each of the regions studied. Plankton collecting has received 
 comparatively little attention. Two series comprising nine- 
 teen hauls have been made with a Nansen closing net in the 
 deep water off Redondo Beach and another series of twenty- 
 four hauls with surface nets at various points while dredging 
 and trawling, making a total of forty-three hauls. 
 
 THE PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE REGION COVERED BY 
 THE SURVEY 
 
 At this time a mere outline of some of the physical char- 
 acteristics of the region in which our work was done may 
 serve to make more intelligible certain conditions attending 
 
Venice Marine Biological Station 7 
 
 the survey. Our work has been extended over the region off 
 the coast from Point Dume to Newport Bay, a distance of 
 about sixty miles, and the region about Catalina Island. For 
 convenience the conditions found in the regions adjacent to 
 the coast line may be considered in three divisions: 
 
 1. The Santa Monica Bay region. 
 
 2. The region adjacent to the San Pedro hills. 
 
 3. The San Pedro Bay region. 
 
 The Santa Monica Bay region extends from Point Dume on 
 the northwest to Rocky Point on the southwest, a distance of 
 about thirty-six nautical miles. The twenty-five fathom line 
 is found less than one-fourth mile from shore at Point Dume. 
 At Long Wharf, Santa Monica and Venice it extends out 
 about three and one-half miles, then gradually approaches the 
 shore at Redondo Beach, where it is again less than one- 
 fourth mile from shore. South of Redondo the twenty-five 
 fathom line makes an abrupt bend outward from the shore 
 and continues to a point opposite Rocky Point at a distance 
 of about one mile. The fifty fathom line extends approxi- 
 mately parallel to that of twenty-five fathoms to a point 
 opposite Playa del Rey, where it is found about five and a 
 half miles off shore. At this point it curves outward, reach- 
 ing a distance of about ten miles opposite Manhattan Beach, 
 where it bends shoreward, extending almost at right angles 
 to the shore until it reaches a point about one-half mile off 
 Redondo Beach, whence it recedes from the shore to a 
 distance of about three and a half miles off Rocky Point. 
 
 Two very prominent features of the bay region which are 
 shown by these soundings are (1) A broad sea bench about 
 five miles long and four miles wide at its base extends out 
 from the fifty fathom line off Manhattan Beach. (2) A deep 
 submarine canyon opposite Redondo Beach brings the one 
 hundred fathom line within one and a half miles of the shore. 
 At the head of this canyon oil springs produce a marked oily 
 condition on the surface of the water. At times the winds 
 and tides spread this oil over an extensive area. 
 
 The coast from Point Dume to Santa Monica consists of 
 abrupt bluffs varying from one hundred to three hundred feet, 
 
8 
 
 University of Southern California 
 
 back of which rise rugged rocky hills one thousand feet in 
 height. In this region the kelps are found close to the shore. 
 The coast from Santa Monica to Playa del Rey consists of a 
 flat rather level sandy beach. Extensive tide flats are found 
 at Venice and Playa del Rey. Rising from the beach from 
 Playa del Rey to Redondo Beach are found extensive sand 
 dunes at places reaching a height of two hundred feet. Ap- 
 proaching Rocky Point the cliffs rise rather abruptly from the 
 rocky beach to about two hundred feet in height. 
 
 2. The San Pedro Hills region extends from Rocky Point 
 on the west to Point Fermin on the east, a distance of about 
 eleven nautical miles. The coast here is very rugged, con- 
 sisting of a series of headlands rising abruptly two hundred 
 feet and separated by open coves with narrow sandy beaches. 
 Six prominent points project into the sea from this region, 
 viz., Rocky Point, Point Vincente, Long Point, Portuguese 
 Point, White’s Point, and Point Fermin. The kelps abound 
 on this coast, extending out to the ten fathom line at most 
 points about a half mile from shore. At Portuguese Point 
 the kelps are very close to shore but at Rocky Point they ex- 
 tend out three-fourths of a mile to the twenty fathom line. 
 
 The twenty-five fathom line is found about three-fourths of 
 a mile from shore at Rocky Point thence it approaches the 
 shore, at Long Point being less than one-fourth mile out. Off 
 Portuguese Point the twenty-five fathom line is about three- 
 fourths mile from shore. Thence it gradually recedes to a 
 distance of about one and a fourth miles at Point Fermin. 
 
 The fifty fathom line is found about three-fourths mile from 
 shore at Long Point, thence extends out gradually to a point 
 about two miles off shore at Point Fermin. The sea floor 
 drops off very abruptly from the fifty fathom line off this 
 entire region. At Portuguese Point a depth of two hundred 
 twenty fathoms is reached two miles off shore and three hun- 
 dred fifty fathoms at three miles. 
 
 3. The San Pedro Bay region extends from Point Fermin 
 to Newport Bay, a distance of about twenty-seven miles. The 
 coast here consists almost wholly of low sandy beach. Inlets 
 of the sea have formed extensive tide flats at San Pedro, 
 Alamitos Bay and Anaheim Landing. 
 
Venice Marine Biological Station 
 
 9 
 
 The twenty-five fathom line is found about one-fourth mile 
 from shore at Point Fermin. It extends out two and a half 
 miles off Long Beach, then gradually approaches the shore 
 to a point near Newport Bay, where it is one mile out. Here 
 an abrupt curve brings the twenty-five fathom depth within 
 one-fourth mile of Newport Beach, whence it again recedes 
 to a point about three-fourths mile and extends some distance 
 nearly parallel to the shore. 
 
 The fifty fathom line is found about twelve miles south of 
 Long Beach, and bends sharply shoreward, at Newport 
 Bay approaching within a mile of the coast. Thence it curves 
 out and parallels the coast at a distance of about one and a 
 half miles. 
 
 In the San Pedro Bay region the shallow water extends out 
 about twice as far as that of Santa Monica Bay. The deep 
 water approaching Newport Beach is roughly comparable to 
 that at Redondo Beach; the one hundred fathom depth is con- 
 siderably farther from shore at Newport Beach. 
 
 METHODS EMPLOYED IN THE SURVEY 
 
 In the work done prior to this date it has not been feasible 
 to secure complete hydrographic data concerning each of the 
 stations studied. We have made some observations as to depth, 
 temperatures, condition of bottom, currents, etc., and in each 
 case a record was made of this data. With the facilities at 
 hand, however, we have not felt that we could profitably at- 
 tempt systematic hydrographic work of a sufficient degree of 
 accuracy to make it worth the effort expended. We have 
 depended largely upon the data found in the government sur- 
 veys to guide us in our work. 
 
 During the following year the departments of Physics and 
 Chemistry of the University may be able to provide the 
 necessary workers and equipment to begin accurate hydro- 
 graphic investigations at each station. 
 
 The location of the stations at which hauls were made in 
 some of the earlier work was determined by the use of the 
 compass and the running time of the launch at full speed. 
 This was early supplemented by the use of the log. For 
 
BOTTOM CONDITIONS 
 
 feO 
 
 T3 > 
 
 Sfe 
 
 O in 
 
 nj 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 2 a 
 
 73 ^ 
 
 >» 2 
 
 2 6 
 
 foO 
 
 CO c 
 
 c3 <u 
 O J-f 
 
 oo 
 
 
 bjo c 
 <l> 
 
 MX 
 
 *3 O 
 
 TO »H 
 
 Qffl 
 
 o 
 
 5 
 
 <v 
 
 H 
 
 PQ 2 
 
 S -I 
 
 CO <u 
 
 3 o 
 
 S ?! 
 
 e- £ 
 
 >> v 
 
 rt ni 
 QQ <U 
 
 pq 
 
 2 be 
 *8§ 
 
 # *The record is taken from the nearest depth and locality at which a sounding is recorded. Numbers in parentheses, 
 indicate depths in fathoms. 
 
Venice Marine Biological Station 
 
 determining the location of the major part of the stations, 
 including all the later once, the sextant has been used at the 
 beginning and end of the haul. 
 
 The time of trawling and dredging was usually one-half 
 hour. In some cases one hour hauls were made, and in a few 
 instances a shorter time was used. The nets used consisted 
 of the following: 1. A beam trawl of the usual sled runner 
 type with a width of five and a half feet. The frame was 
 constructed of galvanized gas pipe which could readily be 
 adjusted to any width desired or the frame could be packed 
 in a small . compass during transportation. When in use 
 weights were added. 2. The otter trawl had a stretch of 
 twenty-five feet and a bag of thirty feet. 3. The Nansen 
 plankton net with the usual No. 20 mesh cloth. A closing 
 device was constructed after the type used on the “Alexander 
 Agassiz” of the Scripps Institute for Biological Research at 
 La Jolla. 4. Several surface plankton nets with heavy brass 
 rings were used. 5. The dredge used had a width of three 
 and a half feet. The frame was constructed of solid iron rods. 
 A cutting edge was placed at the entrance to the net. An 
 open canvass bag protected the netting from injury. 
 
 A series of traps was constructed, one set for deep water 
 consisted of the compartment type, others used were those 
 ordinarily employed for lobster fishing. 
 
 The power used for operating the various nets consisted 
 of a special clutch connecting the engine of the launch with 
 the reel in the engine room on which the steel cable is wound. 
 By means of sheaves the cable is carried out through a port 
 hole, to the boom, thence to the net. 
 
 In the use of the trawl or dredge the haul is emptied on a 
 series of screen cradles on deck, the stream of water from the 
 pump is played over the material in such a manner as to aid 
 in separating the mud from the animals and plants present. 
 The catch is placed in suitable containers and appropriate 
 labels added. In the case of animals with calcareous shells 
 or others specially injured by formalin, eighty per cent alcohol 
 is used as a preservative. In the case of some of the larger 
 animals or those not seriously injured by it, ten per cent 
 
T HE AQUARIUM consists of forty glass tanl 
 storage tanks by an electric motor. In the 
 (indicated by the iron railing) twenty-six by 
 lions. The Aquarium is open to the general public < 
 
/ith constantly running sea water pumped into large 
 ter of the Aquarium is found an oval concrete pool 
 elve feet, and ten feet deep, containing a pair of sea 
 y from nine o’clock a.m. to nine o’clock p.m. 
 
14 
 
 University of Southern California 
 
 formalin is used. The collections are then brought to the 
 laboratory where the several groups of animals are separated, 
 placed in suitable containers and accessioned. 
 
 The log of the launch preserves the original observations 
 made at the time of the haul and recorded then. The acces- 
 sion cards facilitate reference to the data of the log and the 
 material on the shelves of the laboratory. The cards are 
 arranged in numerical order. Another series of cards is 
 made on which the name and museum number of such species 
 as are identified are placed. The genera are arranged alpha- 
 betically. A museum record is arranged in numerical order. 
 
 Some idea of the routine work with the launch may be 
 obtained from the following extracts from Captain P. S. 
 Barnhart’s report on the operations of the Anton Dohrn for 
 1912-1913. The trips were made November 29, and December 
 26, 1912. 
 
 The work with the Anton Dohrn for the year was begun on November 
 29, 1912, during the Thanksgiving recess. At this time trawling was 
 
 carried on off Point Fermin and dredging off White’s Point. 
 
 Three and half miles southeast of San Pedro Light the sea bottom shelves 
 off sharply from fifty to one hundred and fifty fathoms, making a slope 
 about a quarter of a mile in width. On this bank we have found the animal 
 life to be very plentiful. A trawl of a half hour duration (see Trawl 6) 
 brought up 300 starfish representing three - species, 48 sea-urchins, 4 sea- 
 cucumbers, 12 brittle-stars, 82 crabs, 11 mollucks, and a variety of lower 
 forms. At another season the trawl came up loaded down with the eggs 
 of a cephalapod mollusk. Although the weather was dark and rainy and 
 the ground swell rather high, we managed to make five hauls with the trawl 
 and six hauls with the dredge, in the two days we were out. 
 
 During the Christmas recess a trip was made to the Isthmus of Catalina 
 Island. This trip was planned with two purposes in view. First to make 
 a preliminary survey of the water and shore lines on both sides of the 
 Isthmus; second, to gather living specimens for the Aquarium. 
 
 We left San Pedro about noon of December 26 with a crew of four, 
 P. S. Barnhart, H. H. Wheeler, J. Ross Beck, and LeRoy Barnhart. The 
 run was made to Venice for our supplies and after taking them aboard the 
 course was taken for Catalina Harbor on the south side of the Isthmus, 
 which point we reached at five o’clock the next morning, December 27. 
 This continuous run of over twenty hours was rather severe on the crew, 
 however after sleeping for several hours and eating a hearty breakfast, we 
 felt in first class condition and proceeded to get the traps in order and 
 collecting apparatus together. In the afternoon the traps were taken to 
 Little Harbor and set just outside the kelp line. Barnhart and Beck went 
 ashore and made collections from the tide line. It was after dark when 
 anchorage was again made in Catalina Harbor. 
 
 The next morning, December 28, only one specimen was found in the 
 traps. This was a large “swell shark” (Catulus uter). Fishing was carried 
 
V enice Marine Biological Station 
 
 15 
 
 on at the entrance to the harbor, with hand lines, without success. At 4 
 p. m. all hands went ashore for low tide collecting, two taking the east 
 shore and the other two the west. 
 
 The west shore near the entrance to the harbor is very rocky but well 
 protected from the direct action of the waves. The tide rocks are covered 
 with dense growths of sea weeds, while beneath them animal life is abundant. 
 At the high tide mark where the rocks are somewhat bare, black abalones 
 are plentiful. Beneath the rocks crustaceans and worms predominate. 
 Littorinid gastropods are abundant everywhere, especially so on the rocks 
 of this shore. In an hour’s, time several jars of specimens had been col- 
 lected and as it was thejn.,, growing dark, we went aboard the Anton Dohrn 
 and ran into the harbor. After dark a lantern was lowered over the side 
 of the launch to the surface of the water. Several Portunids, swimming 
 crabs, attracted by the l,ight, swam up and clung to the side of the boat 
 and were taken with hand nets. 
 
 December 29 was bright and clear and the water was very calm. Barn- 
 hart and Beck spent the morning rowing around the harbor, investigating 
 the several coves, making observations with the aid of a hand water-glass. 
 Sea-hares and sea-cucumbers are scattered over the sandy bottom of the 
 coves, while the “marine gardens” among the tide rocks and in the rocky 
 depths along both shores near the entrance to the harbor, are not to be 
 surpassed in beauty by any other “gardens” around the island. Damsel-, 
 wrasse, and parrot-fishes with their brilliant colors, swim about the rocks 
 and among the beautiful sea-weeds, while here and there sea-cucumbers, 
 abalones, giant key-hole limpets, and sea-hares, cling to the sides of the 
 rocks* The afternoon of the 29th all hands went across the Isthmus to 
 Isthmus Harbor. Some of the party fished from the end of the pier, and 
 others circled the shore for low tide collections. Fishes and littoral forms 
 seemed to be very scarce. A lower tide would give much better results in 
 shore collecting. 
 
 December 30th a quantity of sea-cucumbers and sea-hares were killed and 
 preserved for future use of laboratory students. The trawling apparatus 
 was then put together and three hauls taken, one at the entrance to the 
 harbor in tweAl^-&ven fathoms, one running due south to forty-three 
 fathoms, and one west by south in forty-three fathoms. The first two 
 yielded an assortment of echinoderms, crabs, mollusks, and small fishes. In 
 the last haul the trawl caught on the bottom just as it was being hauled in, 
 bjroke loose and. pulled up backward. The only specimens left when it 
 reached the surface was a bunch of Molluscoida or “lamp-shells.” The 
 wind and swell were so high by this time that it was impossible to work. 
 The cable was taken in and oiled and at 3 :30 p. m. we started for Isthmus 
 Harbor on the north side of the island at which place anchorage was made 
 at 5 :30 p. m. After dark hand lines were used from the side of the launch 
 and eighteen rock sculpins were -caught in less than one hour. 
 
 Early the next morning, December 31st, we ran up to a small cove 
 where the traps had been set the evening before, and took them up. In one 
 was found a large “swell-shark” and in the other a medium sized lobster. 
 Fishing was carried on until two o’clock in the afternoon but only one 
 large whiting was taken. Schools of Chromids could be seen swimming 
 around the launch but these little fishes will not take a hook with ordinary 
 bait. Later on a run was made to Bird Rock at which place several plank- 
 ton hauls were made and we then ran back to the harbor anchorage. After 
 dark hand lines were again used and eighty-one rock sculpins caught. This 
 
16 University of Southern California 
 
 seemed a peculiar thing, for the Anton Dohrn was anchored over a smooth, 
 sandy bottom in about thirty feet of clear water and during the day no fish 
 were seen anywhere near the launch. The sculpins may have been attracted 
 by the lights of the boat or were out in a nightly search for food. 
 
 New Year’s morning anchorage was made a short distance west of Isthmus 
 Harbor and while three of the crew were ashore collecting abalones, Barn- 
 hart took a number of plankton hauls and collected several species of float- 
 ing ascidians. In the afternoon the six-foot trawl was put together and 
 three hauls made in the main channel of the west entrance. These were 
 not very successful as the current was swift owing to the incoming tide 
 
 and kept the trawl off the bottom. The last haul the trawl caught and 
 
 came up with the frame broken. At 9 :3 5 p. m. we left Isthmus Harbor 
 and arrived off Venice at 4:30 a. m., January 2nd. The ground swell was 
 very high and it was impossible to make the landing, so we had to tie up 
 at the mooring. After waiting until 3 o’clock in the hope that the swells 
 would abate somewhat, we finally ran down to Santa Monica Pier and 
 landed two of the crew who immediately went to Venice and rigged up 
 block and tackle for the small skiff. After landing these two, the launch 
 was run back to its mooring off Venice and then P. S. and LeRoy Barn- 
 hart went ashore in the skiff, running the breakers at the end of the break- 
 
 water without mishap. 
 
 The next morning, January 3, Barnhart and Beck went out to the Anton 
 Dohrn and brought ashore the live abalones and other specimens. 
 
 It will be apparent that this more or less mechanical part 
 of the work has been time consuming. It is equally evident 
 that the value of any results to be attained will depend very 
 largely upon the painstaking accuracy of this initial work. A 
 large part of the time we have been able to give to the station 
 work has been devoted to equipping for the survey; operating 
 the launch and caring for it; preserving the material and mak- 
 ing suitable records. It was deemed expedient to continue 
 this feature of the work until we had in a general way covered 
 the regions we had planned to explore. 
 
 The identification of most of the species of animals and 
 plants in our collections remains yet to be made. In some 
 groups such as the fishes, and some others, a preliminary list 
 is well under way, and other groups are in the hands of 
 specialists for identification. This work will again require 
 time for completion. 
 
 Supplementing the offshore work of the launch a somewhat 
 detailed study of certain limited areas of the shore fauna has 
 been undertaken by graduate students of the University. 
 These localities at present are at Venice, Point Fermin, and 
 Newport Bay. 
 
Venice Marine Biological Station 17 
 
 TRIPS OF THE ANTON DOHRN* 
 
 September, 1912, to September, 1914 
 
 24 — November 29-30, 1912. Trawling and dredging off San 
 
 Pedro, Point Fermin, and White’s Point. 
 
 25 — December 26, 1912, to January 2, 1913. Expedition to 
 
 Catalina Island. Trawling, dredging, and general col- 
 lecting carried on at and around the Isthmus. 
 
 26 — January 15, 1913. Venice to Long Wharf to protect from 
 
 southeast storm. 
 
 27 — January 18, 1913. Long wharf to Venice mooring. 
 
 28 — January 19, 1913. Venice to San Pedro to put launch in 
 
 care of L. A. Motor Boat Club for the winter. 
 
 29 — February 8, 1913. Faculty trip round San Pedro Harbor. 
 
 30 — February 14-16, 1913. To boat yards to paint and clean. 
 
 31 — February 21-22, 1913. Collecting trip around the govern- 
 
 ment breakwater, San Pedro. 
 
 32 — March 29 to April 4, 1913. Trawling, dredging, plankton 
 
 and general collecting from Alamitos Bay to White’s 
 Point. 
 
 33 — April 12, 1913. Trial run to Outer Harbor and back. 
 
 34 — April 26, 1913. Zoology class demonstration trip. 
 
 35 — May 11, 1913. Opening day of the L. A. Motor Boat Club. 
 
 Inspection of launch by U. S. Government officials. 
 
 36 — May 30, 1913. Major students in Biology out for demon- 
 
 stration trip. 
 
 37 — June 10-19, 1913. San Pedro to Catalina Island via Venice. 
 
 General collecting and plankton work. 
 
 38 — July 17, 1913. San Pedro to Anaheim Landing and return. 
 
 After Urolophus halleri. 
 
 39 — July 18, 1913. San Pedro to Venice. To carry on scien- 
 
 tific work at Hyperion and prepare for general sum- 
 mer’s work in Santa Monica Bay. 
 
 40 — July 26, 1913. Venice to Hyperion and return. Scientific 
 
 work at outfall sewer. Demonstration trip for Prof. 
 Life and class in Marine Botany. 
 
 *The sailings prior to September, 1912, are recorded in Vol. 7, No. 6, of 
 the Bulletin of the University. 
 
18 
 
 University of Southern California 
 
 41 — July 29, 1913. Trawling off Venice. 
 
 42 — August 2 , 1913. Trawling off Venice. Summer school 
 
 students on board. 
 
 43 — August 7, 1913. Trawling off Venice. 
 
 44 — August 8, 1913. Trawling off Venice. 
 
 45 — August 14, 1913. To trawl in the bay and to follow large 
 
 school of fishes. 
 
 46 — August 15, 1913. Venice to San Pedro. For fuel and to 
 
 get a new working boom. 
 
 47 — August 18-22, 1913. San Pedro to Catalina Island via 
 
 Venice. Collecting trip for the Aquarium. Trawling 
 and collecting around Avalon Bay and the Isthmus. 
 
 48 — August 22, 1913. Venice to San Pedro. To paint, repair 
 
 and lay by for the season. 
 
 49 — November 25, *26, 1913. San Pedro to Venice and return. 
 
 Preparation for Catalina trip. 
 
 50 — November 27-30, 1913. San Pedro to Catalina Island 
 
 chiefly shore collecting at Isthmus Cove. 
 
 51 — December 26, 1913. Out from San Pedro trawling off 
 
 White’s Point. 
 
 52 — December 27, 1913. San Pedro to Portuguese Bend. 
 
 Trawling expedition. 
 
 53 — March 14, 1914. Trawling off Point Fermin. 
 
 54 — June 19, 20, 1914. Trawling outside of San Pedro Break- 
 
 water. 
 
 55 — June 22-26, 1914. Trawling and dredging near Portu- 
 
 guese Bend. 
 
 56 — July 8-8, 1914. L. A. M. B. C., Wilmington to Venice for 
 
 use of Marine Station during' summer session. 
 
 57 — July 10, 1914. Trip with summer school students from 
 
 Marine Biological Station to Long Wharf collecting 
 in skiff from piles and dredging off Malibou Cove. 
 
 58 — July 11, 1914. Dredging off Santa Monica Municipal Pier. 
 
 59 — July 25, 1914. Dredging off Point Dume. 
 
 60 — August 1, 1914. Dredging off Long Wharf. 
 
 61 — August 8, 1914. Dredging between Long Wharf and 
 
 Venice. 
 
 62 — August 11-13, 1914. Dredging and trawling between 
 
 Venice and Rocky Point. 
 
V enice Marine Biological Station 
 
 19 
 
 The following trips were made in the interest of the U. S. Fish Commis- 
 sion work. The special investigation was conducted by Percy S. Barnhart 
 assisted by J. Ross Beck. 
 
 63 — June 30, 1914. San Pedro to Santa Monica Bay and re- 
 
 turn. 
 
 64 — July 2, 1914. San Pedro to Catalina Island and return on 
 
 the 3rd. 
 
 65 — August 17, 1914. Venice to San Pedro. To prepare the 
 
 launch for government work. 
 
 66 — August 21, 1914. San Pedro to Venice. Marking albacore 
 
 67 — August 26, 1914. From Venice to Point Dume and return. 
 
 Marking albacore. 
 
 68 — August 31, 1914. Venice to Wilmington. Launch repairs 
 
 69 — September 5, 1914. San Pedro to Avalon. 
 
 70 — September 6, 1914. Avalon, Catalina Island to Venice. 
 
 71 — September 12, 1914. Venice to Point Dume and return, 
 
 marking albacore. 
 
 72 — September 15, 1914. Venice to Catalina Harbor. 
 
 73 — September 16, 1914. Catalina Harbor to Santa Barbara 
 
 Island and return. 
 
 74 — September 17, 1914. Catalina Harbor to San Pedro. 
 
 75 — October 6, 1914. San Pedro to Catalina Harbor. 
 
 76 — October 7, 1914. Catalina Harbor to east end of Cle 
 
 mente Island and return. 
 
 77 — October 8, 1914. Catalina Harbor to San Pedro and re- 
 
 turn. 
 
 78 — October 9, 1914. Catalina Harbor toward west end of 
 
 San Clemente Island and return. 
 
 79 — October 10, 1914. Catalina Harbor to San Pedro. 
 
 80 — October 12, 1914. San Pedro to Smugglers Cove, Santa 
 
 Cruz Island. 
 
 81 — October 13, 1914. Smugglers Cove, Santa Cruz Island, 
 
 to east end Ana Capa Island and return. 
 
 82 — October 14, 1914 — Smuggler’s Cove, Santa Cruz Island, to 
 
 San Pedro. 
 
 83 — October 15, 1914. San Pedro to Catalina Harbor. 
 
 84 — October 16, 1914. Catalina Harbor to middle of Outer 
 
 Santa Barbara Channel and return to San Pedro. 
 
 85 — October 19, 1914. San Pedro to Catalina Harbor. 
 
20 
 
 University of Southern California 
 
 86 — October 20, 1914. Catalina Harbor to Point Dume and 
 
 Smuggler’s Cove, Santa Cruz Island. 
 
 87 — October 22, 1914. Smuggler’s Cove, Santa Cruz Island, 
 
 to San Pedro. 
 
 88 — October 30, 1914. San Pedro to Venice to take up moor- 
 
 ing. 
 
 89 — October 31, 1914. Venice to San Pedro. 
 
 90 — November 4, 1914. San Pedro to Catalina Harbor. 
 
 91 — November 5, 1914. Catalina Harbor to middle of Outer 
 
 Santa Barbara Channel and return. 
 
 92 — November 7, 1914. Catalina Harbor to San Pedro. 
 
 93 — November 10, 1914. San Pedro to San Diego. Left San 
 
 Pedro 5:10 p. m. and arrived in San Diego Bay at 7 
 a. m. on the 11th. 
 
 94 — November 12, 1914. San Diego to North Coronado Island 
 
 and return. 
 
 95 — November 13, 1914. San Diego to fishing banks 12 miles 
 
 southwest off Point Loma and return. 
 
 96 — November 14, 1914. Same as above. 
 
 97 — November 18, 1914. Same as above. 
 
 98 — November 20, 1914. Same as above, and then from the 
 
 fishing banks went north to San Pedro, arriving in 
 port at 2 a. m. the 21st. 
 
 THE SUMMER SESSION AT THE STATION 
 
 During the summer of 1914 a six weeks’ session was held, 
 beginning June 29 and ending August 7. The work with the 
 Anton Dohrn extended over two weeks additional. Twenty- 
 three students were enrolled in the courses offered, which con- 
 sisted of General Zoology, two advanced courses in Zoology, 
 and special investigation related to the work of the biological 
 survey. 
 
 Each student was afforded an opportunity to join some of 
 the expeditions of the launch and to get acquainted with the 
 shore fauna of the adjacent beaches. The series of living 
 animals in the glass tanks of the aquarium afforded opportu- 
 nity to observe the life-habits of a wide range of marine 
 animals not readily seen elsewhere. 
 
Venice Marine Biological Station 
 
 21 
 
 The group of students present at the summer session find 
 the atmosphere of investigation and exploration about them 
 conducive to a high degree of efficiency and pleasure in their 
 work. A course of general lectures on Marine Biology, on 
 Evolution, and on the Albacore industry, were given during 
 the session. The summer session for 1915 will include a 
 larger number of these general lectures than have been given 
 before. 
 
 A new laboratory and office was generously provided for 
 the advanced students by the Abbot Kinney Company. 
 
 NOTES OF GENERAL BIOLOGICAL INTEREST 
 
 The Birth of the Young of the California Sea Lion, 
 
 Zalophus californianus, Lesson, 
 in captivity. 
 
 A pair of California sea lions, Zalophus Californianus Les- 
 son, is kept in the large pool of the aquarium of the station. 
 The size of the pool is about twenty-six by twelve feet and 
 ten feet deep. At the north end there is constructed a ledge 
 about nine feet from the bottom, usually about five feet above 
 the surface of the water. On this ledge the seals rest when 
 not in the water. 
 
 In this environment the female gave birth to young, June 
 10, 1914. No provision had been made for any special care 
 of the young or mother, as the attendant was unaware that 
 the female would bear young. Death of the young seal 
 occurred almost immediately. The specimen was taken to a 
 taxidermist, where it was mounted, and was placed in the 
 museum of the aquarium. 
 
 From the mounted specimen the following data has been 
 taken : 
 
 Total length to end of tail 28^4 inches 
 
 Tail 1J4 inches 
 
 From tip to tip of front flippers (as 
 
 mounted) 15 inches 
 
 Length of hind flippers 7 inches 
 
 The general color is gray, which shades into a very dark 
 color on the flippers. The color of the tail is much lighter 
 
22 
 
 University of Southern California 
 
 than the body, resembling somewhat the tawny yellow of the 
 body of the adult. 
 
 A Herd of Elephant Seals, Macrorhinus angustirostris, Gill 
 
 In an exhibit on the pier near the aquarium is kept a herd 
 of young elephant seals. They were captured by Capt. Chas. 
 Davis off the coast of Lower California at Guadalupe Island 
 and brought to Venice, where they were kept in a large tank 
 which was supplied with water pumped from the canals. 
 
 They lived in excellent condition until last August, when 
 the smaller pair died, leaving two pairs, the oldest of which 
 is now about two years. No cause of the death of the seals 
 could be discovered. The specimens were carefully examined 
 and later preserved by the staff of the Los Angeles County 
 Museum at Exposition Park. The largest bull is now some- 
 what over eight feet in length and weighs probably about eight 
 hundred pounds. 
 
 The Occurrence of the Leatherback Turtle, Sphargis coriacea, (Linn) 
 
 During the summer of 1914 a specimen of this giant chelo- 
 nian was brought to Venice. It was preserved by Col. Dan 
 Duffy and kept on exhibition. It was reported to have been 
 taken off the coast in the vicinity of San Juan Capistrano. 
 
 From the preserved specimen the following measurements 
 were made: 
 
 Total length from tip of snout to end 
 
 of tail 
 
 6 
 
 ft., 
 
 5 
 
 in, 
 
 Length of carapace 
 
 5 
 
 ft. 
 
 
 
 Width of carapace 
 
 2 
 
 ft., 
 
 10 
 
 in, 
 
 Width of front flippers 
 
 
 
 9/2 
 
 in, 
 
 Stretch of front flippers from 
 
 tip to tip. .7 
 
 ft. 
 
 
 
 Circumference of head 
 
 2 
 
 ft., 
 
 6/2 
 
 in 
 
 The Occurence of Phosphorescent Organisms at the Beaches 
 During the Summer of 1914 
 
 An unusual number of phosphorescent protozoa was found 
 in the water at Venice and adjacent beaches during July and 
 August. The color of the water by day was a deep reddish 
 brown with streaks here and there of water apparently free 
 from organisms. For a short time the amount of dead organic 
 
Venice Marine Biological Station 
 
 23 
 
 matter was sufficient to produce a very noticeable odor in the 
 aquarium. Some of the animals in the tanks died from the 
 impurity of the water. Samples were taken at intervals dur- 
 ing the summer session and preserved for identification. A 
 report on the species found with notes on their distribution 
 will be published at some later time. 
 
 INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS 
 
 The following lines of investigation have recently been 
 undertaken: 
 
 1. Dr. Samuel Rittenhouse has begun an investigation of 
 the wood destroying animals found in the Santa Monica Bay 
 region. 
 
 2. The department of Chemistry has undertaken the inves- 
 tigation of some of the chemical aspects of the marine algae 
 with reference to the extraction and utilization of the salts 
 entering into their composition. 
 
 3. An Ecological study of the fauna of Point Fermin. 
 Beryl Rapp. 
 
 4. The oyster problem of Southern California. Ethel M. 
 Palmer. 
 
 Progress in investigations continued from previous year : 
 
 5. The sewage contamination of the waters of the coast 
 adjacent to Los Angeles has been studied by Professor L. J. 
 Stabler and E. A. Just. They have determined the free 
 oxygen content of the water as a factor indicating the degree 
 of contamination. These studies were made on the water in 
 Los Angeles harbor, Hyperion (the outfall of the Los Angeles 
 sewer), at Venice, and Santa Monica. Samples were taken 
 from the open sea five miles off shore as a standard of com- 
 parison. 
 
 6. The study of the relation of the bacteria in water con- 
 taminated with sewage to the free oxygen present in the water 
 has been undertaken by Edwin Hadley of the Venice Union 
 Polytechnic High School. Samples were taken from Santa 
 Monica, Venice, Playa del Rey, Hyperion, and Los Angeles 
 Harbor. 
 
24 University of Southern California 
 
 7. The study of the sting ray, Urolophus halleri, by Pro- 
 fessor A. B. Ulrey, has been continued. During the past 
 three years over two hundred embryos have been taken from 
 the uterus and preserved in suitable fixing solutions. The 
 stages showing the origin of the developing spine had eluded 
 us for two seasons but our collections during the summer of 
 1913 provided not only these desired stages but many others 
 as well. Serial sections of the spine region of twenty-five 
 embryos of varying lengths have been made and some of the 
 drawings completed. 
 
 8. The study of the Brachyura of the Santa Monica Bay 
 region and the Anatomy and Life-habits of the Sand Crab, 
 Emerita, has been continued by Percy S. Barnhart. 
 
 Papers recently published: 
 
 9. A general statement of the results of the study of the 
 Abalone problem by Professor C. L. Edwards has been pub- 
 lished in Popular Science Monthly for June, 1913. 
 
 10. The Conservation of the Marine Algae by Professor 
 A. C. Life in the Bulletin of the Southern California Academy 
 of Sciences for July, 1914. 
 
 EXPLANATION OF PLATES 
 
 The drawings were made by Elmer Higgins from the maps 
 of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and the data derived 
 
 from the log of the Anton Dohrn. 
 
 The trips of the Anton Dohrn indicated on Plate I are as 
 
 follows: The small circles 
 
 indicate the observing stations. 
 
 a. 
 
 Trip of June 
 
 21, 1912 
 
 h. 
 
 Trip of Oct. 
 
 7, 
 
 1914 
 
 b. 
 
 Trip of Aug. 
 
 29, 1912 
 
 i. 
 
 Trip of Oct. 
 
 9, 
 
 1914 
 
 c. 
 
 Trip of Dec. 
 
 26, 1912 
 
 j- 
 
 Trip of Oct. 
 
 12, 
 
 1914 
 
 d. 
 
 Trip of Mar. 
 
 30, 1913 
 
 k. 
 
 Trip of Oct. 
 
 20, 
 
 1914 
 
 e. 
 
 Trip of June 
 
 13, 1913 
 
 1. 
 
 Trip of Nov. 
 
 10, 
 
 1914 
 
 f. 
 
 Trip of Aug. 
 
 18, 1913 
 
 m 
 
 . Trip of Nov. 
 
 12, 
 
 1914 
 
 gr- 
 
 Trip of Sept. 16, 1914 
 
 n. 
 
 Trip of Nov. 
 
 13, 
 
 1914 
 
 
 o. 
 
 Trip of 
 
 Nov. 
 
 20, 1914 
 
 
 
 in 
 
 Plates II and 
 
 III, D i 
 
 ndicates a station at 
 
 which the 
 
 dredge was used, T the trawl. The numeral following indi- 
 cates the number of the dredge or trawl respectively. 
 
' 
 
 ■ :■ ' 
 
 . 
 
 
 ....... , .. . . ' .r-.r.L ■ 
 
 
PLATE I 
 

PLATE 11 
 
A 
 
 
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 ( 
 

 Jratata .rr.-tej 
 
 
 III 31 V3d 
 
> 
 
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