65 



popular one), and Marine Biological Institution ; a special 

 committee was appointed to consider the question and 

 reported to Government strongly in favour of the scheme 

 including not only an aquarium worthy of the country 

 and of its position as the only one between Naples and 

 the Philippines, but a place of biological research and 

 instruction, a source of supply of biological specimens 

 for use in educational institutions and for study by savants 

 all over the world, and a su'table home for the Fisheries 

 department which would, in turn, greatly strengthen its 

 position and enhance its usefulness. Mr. Hornell also 

 suggested the foundation of a research fellowship in 

 fishery investio^ations tenable bv Graduates of the Madras 

 Universitv in connection with the economic work of the 

 proposed institution, a suggestion which was warmly 

 supported by the Committee. 



Biological tc search and supplies. — Mr. Hornell has 

 attempted work in this direction so far as the pressure 

 of other duties and want of provision for such work per- 

 mitted ; he has been able, though, not departmentally. 

 to supply specimens to research workers at Oxford, the 

 British Museum, and Calcutta, but could do little for the 

 reasons given. 



Exchange of publications has been carried out with 

 about 1 20 other institutions all over the world, and a 

 considerable body of books and papers is being received. 



Deep sea fishing was not carried out ; the " Suther- 

 land " was transferred to the Pearl and Chank Fisheries 

 department, and the " Turbinella " whose engine was 

 placed in the " Sutherland," was also on pearl inspection 

 duty in the absence of a regular inspection vessel. More- 

 over it has been found, in practice, impossible to obtain 

 a crew which, on their own initiative and without expert 

 supervision, will work and modify their work as occasion 

 requires, in unknown and hitherto untried conditions^ in 

 purely experimental methods, and with nets, etc., neces- 

 sarily somewhat different to their own ; this is markedly 

 the case in Ireland and even in Japan, and is a practical 

 stumbling block in Madras. Hence it was proposed, 

 and Government sanctioned the proposal, to obtain a 

 practical instructor from the East of Scotland who would 

 experiment, mainly in drift net and line fishing, in the 

 exploitation of our coastal fisheries in areas hitherto 

 untouched y^t probably well within the 100 fathom limit. 



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