appear extravagant to some persons who are not aware of what has been done elsewhere.

The "Zoological Station" of Naples, founded and directed by Dr. Anton Dohrn, is no less costly and efficient an institution than that which I have briefly sketched. Elsewhere, at Trieste, at Concarneau, at Roscoff, at Beaufort in North Carolina, less costly institutions have been set going, which are doing most valuable work.

The British coast is entirely destitute of any such home of research. No zoologists are employed by the Government or other authorities in this country to investigate our fishery-animals: those zoologists who do carry on such work on the coasts of this country, do so at their own expense. There is not even a laboratory, a boat or a dredging apparatus, provided by any public body to assist them. Naturally enough their work has not been hitherto specially directed to problems connected with fisheries; but it is only needful to offer to the many isolated investigators the use of a good laboratory and a well-considered organisation, in order to obtain through their co-operation the new knowledge which is so urgently needed.

I cannot but think that it will be a matter for profound congratulation to those who have brought this Exhibition into existence, to the Legislature, to men of science and to those concerned in fisheries, should we be able in future to point to a "National Laboratory of Marine Zoology" as THE Scientific Result of the London International Fisheries Exhibition.

APPENDIX

THE hoped-for "scientific result of the Fisheries Exhibition" sketched at the end of the lecture given by me in 1883 has become a reality. At the close of the Exhibition I obtained the signatures of a number of leading naturalists and others interested in fishery questions to a memorial to the Executive Council of the Exhibition, asking that a portion of the surplus receipts of the Exhibition might be devoted to the foundation of a laboratory for the production of new knowledge with regard to food-fishes. The surplus was, however, applied to other purposes, and the chances of starting such a laboratory seemed small, when Dr. Günther of the British Museum suggested to me the formation of an association having for its object the foundation and maintenance of one or more such laboratories. Some of the officers and Council of the Royal Society warmly supported this suggestion, and kindly gave the use of the rooms of the Society in March 1884 for a meeting at which Professor Huxley presided. This meeting was attended not only by scientific biologists, but by representatives of the Fishmongers' Company, and by all the members of the Royal Commission on Trawling, at that time engaged in inquiries into the fishing industry. It was agreed to establish the Marine

Biological Association of the United Kingdom, of which Professor Huxley became president, and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales patron. About 300 members joined the Association, and subscriptions were invited for the purpose of erecting a laboratory. After due inquiry Plymouth Sound was agreed upon as the locality for the first laboratory, and a site was placed at the disposal of the Association by the authorities of the War Office. Donations of £500 and upwards were received from the Fishmongers' Company (£2000), the Clothworkers' Company, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the British Association for the Advancement of Science, Mr. Robert Bayly, and Mr. John Bayly of Plymouth. Sums varying from £100 to £300 were subscribed by the Drapers, Mercers, Goldsmiths, and Grocers' Companies, by the Corporation of London, and by the Royal, the Zoological, and the Royal Microscopical Societies, as well as by a number of gentlemen interested in the enterprise, either as naturalists or as philanthropists. Finally Parliament, on the recommendation of the Treasury, voted a sum of £5000 in aid of the building and fitting of the laboratory, and a sum of £500 a year for five years towards defraying the annual cost of management and research. The laboratory, which is represented in the vignette, stands in front of King Charles's Curtain on the Citadel Hill, overlooking Plymouth Sound. It was completed and opened for work in June 1888. The building and fittings, including aquariums, pumps, and steam-engines, have cost about £12,000.

It is at present carried on at an annual expenditure of about £1250. Its staff includes Mr. Gilbert Bourne, M.A. Oxon., director; Mr. Garstang, B.A. Oxon., assistant; and Mr. Cunningham, M.A. Oxon., naturalist. It possesses a fine library, a steam launch, a yawl, and a row-boat, and employs a fisherman, engineer, laboratory servant, and other hands. A large number of naturalists have availed themselves

of the facilities afforded by the laboratory, which contains ample accommodation for fourteen workers, each occupying a private work-table, screened off from neighbouring tables, and fitted with fresh and salt water, gas, chemical reagents, etc. The Association has published four numbers of a journal containing reports of the work done at Plymouth, as well as the official reports of the Council. The Council meets in London once a month to superintend the finances of the Association, and direct in a general way the work

carried on at Plymouth. From the foundation of the Association I have had the pleasure of acting as its honorary secretary, in co-operation with a Council consisting chiefly of scientific naturalists, who have given time and trouble freely for the purpose of establishing the Plymouth Laboratory as a national institution. Already the Association has been the means of adding important facts to our knowledge of that most valuable food-fish the common sole—a large and richly-illustrated volume by the naturalist specially employed for these researches-Mr. Cunningham -being at this moment in the press. The anchovy, the pilchard, the lobster, and the oyster are each receiving special attention, which will in due time lead to practical results. Besides these, a large number of researches on purely scientific questions, such as the electric organs of skates, the anatomy of Crustacea, the structure of new and rare minute organisms taken in the tow-net or in the pools at low tide, have been carried on by naturalists who have come to Plymouth for the purpose of profiting during a month or two by the facilities offered in the laboratory of the Association.

The task which now lies before those who have founded this institution is by no means a light one. It has to be carried on from year to year, and funds have to be obtained for this purpose. Those who may be interested in the publications of the Association, or desire further information concerning it, should apply by letter to the Director of the Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth.