Foul Water

Abstract

ALLOW me to call attention to the fact every year—generally some time in May—the sea-water on this coast becomes in a condition that fishermen call “foul.” It is due to the presence of enormous quantities of gelatinous masses of small size and sphenical, cylindrical and irregular forms, in which nucleated granules are imbedded. After immersion, even for a few seconds, ropes, nets, &c., feel as if they had been dipped in thin glue. The men allege that this “foul water” has an injurious effect upon their tackle, and also lessens their take of some kinds of fish. It continues for about a month and then disappears. This year I have had and still have some of the organisms under microscopic observation, and I am very anxious to know if they have already been the subject of scientific inquiry, or not; and also information as to the geographical extent of their diffusion.