1130 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



carried on for a smaller sum ; but a really creditable and 

 efficient laboratory of the kind, with a first-rate man of 

 science for its director, would cost ^15,000 or ^20,000 to 

 establish, and some ^3000 a year to maintain. 



These figures and the whole suggestion may 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 Beau- 

 fort 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 investi- 

 gate 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 



