1150 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



reader again to the Athen<zum of Nov. 22, 1890, in the 

 " Science Gossip " items of which that staid, respectable, 

 and valuable Journal, writing in a tone of bitter, national 

 regret, says : ' ' History, with its usual monotony, has 

 again repeated itself. The Marine Biological Association, 

 at a loss for a suitable director, has had to cross the 

 Tweed and select Mr. W. L. Calderwood, who was for 

 four years connected with the Scotch Fishery Board. The 

 Act of Union will not, we believe, prove disadvantageous 

 to the Marine Biological Association." 



Was there no one at Home ? 



Seemingly not ; and the Government's Abroad. 



Ah ! Professor Lankester was right, and the glossed 

 over assertions of a wilderness of Dukes cannot contradict 

 him. 



And now, as we look from the promising 1883 to the 

 mournful 1890, we can see the Marine Biological Associa- 

 tion, lacking that recognition from the Government which 

 it ought to receive, fretting at and envious of the better 

 fortune and well-merited fame of the Zoological Station at 

 Naples, and awakening to the fact that (in regard to their 

 own case and others too) " Apathy " is the badge of all the 

 Governmental Tribe. Yes, British Public, "APATHY' is 

 the only word. 



Now, in all probability, the reader, having followed 

 me thus far, will say " Sir, all that you have said against 

 the Government may or may not be correct, but our Legis- 

 lators have empowered the Board of Trade with the sole 

 control of the Fishery Industry, and therefore you have 

 been attacking the wrong party." 



Very well, for the sake of argument let it be so. But 

 I hardly think that having found the Masters so remiss in 



