i895. NOTES AND COMMENTS. 309 



The Plymouth Laboratory. 



From the Report of the Director of the Marine Biological 

 Association at Plymouth, we learn that the new system adopted for 

 supplying the tanks in the laboratory with sea-water has shown itself 

 to be a decided improvement upon that originally used. By the new 

 arrangement the water supplied to the laboratory has not been pre- 

 viously used, while the water in the reservoir and the aquarium is 

 constantly replaced by water from the sea. The improvement thus 

 obtained is shown by the fact that foraminifera have been satisfac- 

 torily reared, and colonies of hydroids are now found on the sides of 

 the tanks. Soles have also bred this year, and this is the first record 

 of soles having bred naturally in confinement. Shallow tanks have 

 been placed immediately under the windows on the south side, and 

 the direct action of sunlight has kept the water in good condition for 

 the support of delicate forms of animal and vegetable life. The 

 Government grant from the Royal Society will be used towards the 

 expenses of boat hire in connection with an attempt to extend the 

 dredging and trawling work to deeper water between Start Point and 

 the Eddystone. A novel feature in the year's work is the record of a 

 visit made by five University students under Mr. Garstang, to make 

 a general study of living marine animals. When the tables are not 

 all in occupation by naturalists, and so long as it does not interfere 

 with the proper work of the institution, this seems a useful innovation. 

 Professor Weldon's researches on the abnormality of crabs necessi- 

 tated the fitting up of 500 separate bottles, allowing for a current of 

 sea-water through each bottle ; each crab had to be fed daily, and 

 Professor Weldon's results were only arrived at after a maximum of 

 care and labour. The arrangement of the typical specimens in the 

 Museum is making satisfactory progress under Messrs. Garstang, 

 Taylor, and Hodgson. Mr. J. P. Thomasson has renewed his 

 donation of /"250 for fishery investigation in the North Sea. 



Mr. G. W. Butler reports on the spawning of the common sole ; 

 Mr. Cunningham continues his North Sea investigations, and has 

 further evidence on the influence of light on pigments ; while Mr. 

 Allen writes some faunistic notes, and on the reproduction of the 

 lobster. 



Fresh Herrings. 



" The voyage was not considered successful, and the catchers 

 seem less inclined every year to risk life and capital in this enter- 

 prise." So says Mr. C. Stacey- Watson, in the Transact ions of the 

 Norfolk Naturahsts' Society, regarding the spring fishery of the 

 Yarmouth and Lowestoft boats ; and this seems to be due to the large 

 importations of Scandinavian-caught fish, and to the fact that fishing 

 in the Moray Firth begins earlier than formerly. However this may 

 be, the two sets of fishermen secured no less than 24,441 lasts 



