1898] NEWS 357 



tion has been published relative to the fishing industry and fishing centres of the 

 Colony. The Colonial Government is now in a position to appreciate the value 

 of this important industry and the possibilities of its development, and to legis- 

 late on matter which may arise in regard to it. In order to satisfactory investi- 

 gate the fishing grounds one of the most modern types of steam vessels was 

 procured, together with a skilled crew, and they set to work with long lines, 

 nets, and trawl. So far it is found that there is within easy reach of Cape Town 

 an excellent trawling ground, rivalling the North Sea in productiveness, and 

 among other excellent fish, soles occur there abundantly, some of them turning 

 the scale at 8 and 9 lbs, from near St Helena Bay. The future work of the 

 " Pieter Faure " as the vessel is called will be the investigation of the Agulhas 

 Bank from Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth, Knysna, Port Alfred and East 

 London. The scientific aspect of the work will be kept in sight (see Natural 

 Sri. nee, October, p. 228) but for the present more attention must be given to the 

 industry. Considerable opposition has been made to the operations of the steam 

 trawler, but it has been pointed out that Parliament was only experimenting at 

 present, that proper investigation would be made into the alleged disturbance of 

 spawn, and the fishing limits for ordinary fishermen, but that the store of food 

 available round the coast would certainly be exploited in a country clamouring 

 for cheap food, and that the interests of a large country would outweigh the 

 interests of a few individual fishermen. The report contains some valuable 

 charts, descriptions of a new Arnoglossus by Mr Boulenger, and a new genus of 

 gasteropoda Xcptuneopsis gilchristi by Mr G. B. Sowerby, besides much other 

 statistical information. 



The general conference of the International Geodetic Association met at 

 Stuttgart on October 3. Among other matters a programme for a systematic 

 study of variations of latitude, involving the occupation of stations for a term of 

 years, was arranged. Two stations will be in the United States, one in Italy, 

 and one in Japan. 



We learn from the American Geologist that the International Mining Congress 

 will meet again in 1899 at Milwaukee. The meeting at Salt Lake City in July 

 had an attendance of about 200. One of the chief objects of the Congress is to 

 recommend amendments to the mining laws of the United States. 



The Second International Congress of Marine Fisheries was held at Dieppe 

 on September 2, under the presidency of Mr Perrier. There were four sections : 

 (1) For scientific research under Mathias Duval ; (2) Apparatus, preparation and 

 transport under Delamare-Debouteville ; technical education under J. E. Seigneur ; 

 (4) Fishery rules under Mr Roche. Numerous communications were made to 

 the Congress. 



The Tenth Congress of Russian naturalists and physicians was held at Kiev 

 on September 3, under the presidency of Mr Bunge. Over 1500 members were 

 present. 



The Fifth International Congress of Physiologists will be held at the Uni- 

 versity of Turin towards the end of September 1901. 



The Library of the Millport Marine Biological Station has received a nearly 

 complete set of the " Challenger " publications. 



Count Carl Laxdberg, the Bavarian orientalist, will be the leader of the 

 expedition projected by the Vienna Academy of Sciences, to Arabia. The Swedish 

 steamer 'Gottfried' took the party from Trieste towards the end of October. 

 Prof. Simony goes as botanist, Dr Kossmat as geologist. The chief objects of 

 the expedition are Sabaean inscriptions, pre-Arabic archaeology, and the Mahra 

 language. Dr Layn will go as physician. 



