34 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



has it in coatemplation to have a marine station somewhere on the 

 "West of Scotland. Arran had been strongly recommended, but 

 when they saw the extent of rich dredging ground, and variety 

 and extent of shore, all within so short a distance of the central 

 point, IStillport, besides an easy run to all the lochs of tlie Firth, 

 they were all in one mind that Millport was greatly preferable to 

 Arran or any other place that had been thought of. Fortunately 

 all round Cumbrae the dredging was exceedingly successful. Where 

 they think would be most suitable for the site of the station is on 

 one of the Allans." 



As a preliminary step towards the establishment of a permanent 

 station, a barge named the Ark, which had been fitted up as a 

 floating laboratory, was brought from Granton to Millport, and 

 drawn up on the rocks above high-water mark. The pleasure with 

 which Mr. Kobertson contemplated the fulfilment of what had 

 long been a cherished desire may be gathered from his correspon- 

 dence. Writing to Dr. J. K. Henderson, who was then about to 

 leave for India, he states that — " To keep up old associations, Mrs. 

 Robertson and I take a walk to the Ark every day. We have had 

 some heavy weather for the last few days, with high tides, but the 

 Ark is keeping her ground well, which is giving us hope that she 

 will come safely through the winter." In April of the following 

 year he wrote to Dr. Murray as follows : — " I got the chain of 

 the Ark tightened up a little, I am getting the rock on her west 

 side cut away, which will be a great safety to her. I would be 

 sorry to see any mishap overtaking the old lady. We had a pretty 

 sharp gale last night, but she is still all right." 



As an addition to the sights of Millport the Ark proved a 

 centre of attraction even to unscientific visitors. '' During the 

 summer of 1889," writes Mr. Stebbing, "an experiment was made 

 to test the interest which the public would take in it. An intel- 

 ligent attendant was paid to take charge of it, and empowered to 

 admit visitors at a fixed charge. A discussion took place as to 

 what the charge should be. One of the financial committee 

 recommended that it should be sixpence, another thought that 

 threepence would be enough, but Mr. Robertson carried the day 

 for his own view that only a penny should be asked. Yet so 

 much interest was shown in the boat and its contents that five to 

 seven or eight shillings a day in pennies were received throughout 



