1 1. Advantages to the aquaritun. — A primary advant- 

 age {a) is that experts of the Fisheries staff would be 

 ahvays on the spot, either the Marine Assistant 

 himself, or one of the others. These would not only 

 give general supervision, but would materially assist 

 in the practical working of the aquarium, a matter in 

 w^hich many questions or difficulties must constantly 

 arise when a large series of living animals are 

 associated in somewhat abnormal conditions, and when 

 questions of food, air, water circulation, etc., must con- 

 stantly arise. Here, again, Vk'oulcl result considerable 

 economy, since in the absence of such experts, always 

 on the spot, separate aquarium officers would have to be 

 appointed at considerable expense, and I need hardly 

 say that none could easily or cheaply be obtamed who 

 would have the experience and the knowledge of the 

 higher officers of " Fisheries," such as Mr. Hornell 

 himself. A second advantage [b] is that "Fisheries" 

 could greatly aid and greatly cheapen the provision of 

 live or other material. We already have two fishing 

 boats, one of which, the motor-boat " Turbinella," will 

 use powerful nets and dredges, and could provide the 

 aquarium with any quantity and variety of specimens. 

 I understand that the local fishermen utterly refuse to 

 provide food-fishes (probably fearing that we shall breed 

 them on an enormous scale and abolish the fishermen, 

 as gravely suggested in a recent petition to Government), 

 and that, in tact, there are none in the present aquarium ; 

 these we could provide in any quantity as well as 

 sharks, etc., about which there is a local difficulty. The 

 " Turbinella " will probably be stationed at Madras, 

 and when the proposed new inspection schooner becomes 

 available the aquarium could have almost whatever it 

 chose at practically no expense and on demand. 



12. Advantages to the public. — Apart from the special 

 educational advantage alluded to in paragraph lo (r), 

 viz., the distribution of specimens and material for 

 education and research, there would be the great advant- 

 age to the general public that, with Fisheries located 

 in the aquarium building and constantly examining the 

 tanks, there would be on the spot expert officers ready 

 and able to give detailed and interesting information 

 which would immensely add to the attractions of the 

 place as a show, and would often convert mere gaping 



