02 



CEYLON PEAEL OYSTER EEPORT. 



a stop. On that account the November inspection would probably be a better 

 time for transporting, as tbe temperature is lower then than in March and April. 



Fur some time alter this Mr. HoRNELL was fully occupied in looking after his 

 oysters sunk or suspended in bags and baskets and " chatties" from boats, and buoys 

 and booms in various parts of Galle Bay ; and in superintending the fitting up of the 

 marine laboratory at Akersloot Bastion. In addition to the large rooms (fig. 25) 

 obtained from the old Military Hospital, on the ramparts of the Dutch Fort, which 

 had to be sub-divided and furnished with work-tables, shelving and cupboards, an 

 outside shed formed of " cadjan" (the large leaves of the talipot palm) was erected as 

 a tank-house (fig. 136) to accommodate the wooden tanks and glass aquaria containing 



Fii;. 26. Aquarium shed with wooden tanks at tliu Gallu Marine Biological Station. 



the oysters under experiment and observation. Care was taken in the site and 

 construction of tliis tank-shed to make it as cool as possible, and the sides were closed 

 in with "tat "-blinds (split bamboos tied together), as being airier and lighter than 

 cadjan ilaps. The tanks were connected with the sea by a semi-rotary pump and 

 water pipes which were carried about 20 feet outwards from the base of the rampart 

 in order that the intake might be placed in a deep clear pool lined with living coral. 

 The reservoir into which the pump discharges and from which the sea-water runs 

 through the tanks is formed of two large iron tanks such as are used for citronella oil, 

 with their upper ends cut out, and joined by a pipe at the base. The various 

 observational tanks and aquaria (which had been brought out from Liverpool) were 

 joined up by means of glass and rubber tubing, and were provided with arrangements 

 devised by Mr. Hornell for distributing air in finely sub-divided bubbles throughout 

 the water. This marine laboratory has proved in every way satisfactory aud suitable 



