532 Transactions. 



ment and life-history of the local fishes, their food-supply, &c, 

 also of the marine invertebrate fauna. (2.) To collect and hatch 

 out eggs of various local marine fishes and to distribute them. 

 (3.) To introduce and rear desirable species of foreign fishes, 

 as well as lobsters and crabs. 



Buildings required. — (a.) One or more tidal ponds in which 

 to place any fish, native or introduced, while under observation 

 and investigation ; (6) spawning-pond for ripe fish ; (c) a build- 

 ing to serve as a fattening and spawn - collecting chamber ; 

 (d) a hatching-house containing boxes, &c, in which the ova 

 were to be hatched out ; (e) tank-house fitted with boiler, 

 engine, and pump ; (/) laboratory. The estimated cost of these 

 buildings, erected on the same scale as those of the Scotch 

 Fishery Board at their Dunbar establishment, was £550. A 

 curator's house, with rooms added in which students and ex- 

 perts who were engaged in research work could be accommo- 

 dated, would also be required. 



Control. — It was suggested that the Professor of Biology 

 for the time being in the University of Otago be appointed 

 by the Government as the honorary scientific director of the 

 establishment, and that he be aided by a Board of, say, six 

 members — two nominated by the Government, two by the 

 Otago Institute, and two by the Acclimatisation Society — such 

 Board to be elected annually or for such periods as the Govern- 

 ment may decide, and to report annually to the Minister at the 

 head of the Marine Department. 



After considerable discussion Mr. Thomson's memorandum 

 was unanimously agreed to, and Mr. Ayson expressed the 

 opinion that the Government would do everything in its power 

 to help the two contributing bodies in the movement towards 

 the establishment of the hatchery and biological station. 



Up to this point the Purakanui site alone was under dis- 

 cussion and consideration ; but, apart from the difficulty which 

 was experienced in getting to and from the spot and the time 

 involved in visiting it, a serious drawback was noted which 

 caused the abandonment of the project as far as this site was 

 concerned. It was found that after periods of heavy rainfall 

 the salinity of the water, especially on the ebb tide, was so 

 very much reduced that it might prove fatal to any stock of 

 fish — particularly deep-sea fish — which might be kept in con- 

 finement there. Accordingly a further examination of the 

 coast was made for a new site, and in spite of the original 

 objection urged against any spot inside the Heads the site at 

 Quarry Point, Portobello, was ultimately fixed upon. 



Nothing was done towards advancing the movement during 

 the early part of 1900, for Mr. Ayson and some members of the 



