PELAGIC TUNICATES AND CHAETOGNATHS COLLECTED DURING THE CRUISES TO THE NEW YAMATO BANK IN THE SEA OF JAPAN

Abstract

The surveying ship of the Maizuru Marine Observatory visited in April, July and September 1950 the submarine New Yamato Bank in the Sea of Japan. Mr. H. YAMAZI of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory and Mr. H. MAEDA of the Kobe University were on board in these cruises and hauled many plankton samples; and from these samples Miss Y. MORI of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory picked up appendicularians and chaetognaths for me. Most of these plankton samples were collected from the superficial layer by a small cruise net, 'while a small part was hauled up from the deeper layer by KITAHARA's standard net, a modified HENSEN's net, with. ca. 20cm mouth diameter and ca. 1m long. The former material comprises a small quantity of appendicularians and chaetognaths, while the latter material is very rich in these animals and has offered me several rare and interesting forms. All the data pertaining to these materials are given in the tables at the end of this article. In the following, I propose to give some systematic notes, and also the relation between the fauna and the hydrographical condition of the surveyed area. Before going further, I wish to express my .hearty thanks to Mr. I. YAMAZI, Mr. H. MAEDA and Miss Y. MORI for their generous help. I am also very grateful to Prof. T. KOMAI for their kind guidance and incessant encouragement.