Vol. V. No. 101. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



77 



THE JOUJiiYAL OF ECONOMIC BIOLOGY.- 

 Edited by W. E. Collinge, M.Sc, Lecturer on Zoology and 

 ■Oompariitive Anatomy in the University of Birmingham, 

 London, .Uessrs. Dulau ib Co. Annual subscription i6s. : — 



The first number of this new periodical has just been 

 published. Four numbers are to ajipear every year to 

 form a volume. It is edited by Mr. W. E. Collinge, 

 M.Sc, in co-operation with Professor A. H. Reginald Buller, 

 D.Sc, Professor Geoi'ge H. Carpenter, B.Sc, Mr. Robert 

 Newstead, A.L.S., and Mr. A. E. Shipley, F.R.S., and should 

 j.n'ove a great success. 



In the editorial notice, it is pointed out that workers in 

 economic biology in the United Kingdom and elsewhere 

 Lave found great difficulty in obtaining the publication of 

 their papers. It is expected that this journal will offer 

 a medium for the i)ublication of such papers. 



This number contains articles on the following subjects : 

 The Destruction of Wooden Paving Blocks by the fungus 

 Lenlinus lepiden.", Fr., by Professor Buller, D.Sc. ; The 

 Effect of Change of Food and Temjierature on Abraxas 

 grossulariata, Steph., by Jlr. W. E. Collinge, M.Sc. ; and 

 New Culicidae from India, British Guiana, etc., by Mr. F. V. 

 Theobald, if.A. 



Towards the end of this number reviews are given of new 

 books, and a list of the current literature dealing with 

 biological subjects of economic importance. The editor states 

 that in future numbers it is hoped to offer critical abstracts 

 from the current literature. A hope is also expressed that 

 all economic biologists will soon find it indispensable, and 

 will assist in making its imblication a success. 



BARBADOS FISHERIES. 



The following is taken from the Report of the 

 special Committee appointed to consider and report upon 

 the Fishing Industries of the island, which appeared in 

 the Barbados Official Gazette, of February 1 : — ■ 



After holding several meetings and taking the evidence 

 of persons conversant with the various fishing industries 

 carried out round the coa.sts of this island, the Committee 

 -are of opinion that there has been for some time past 

 A serious diminution in the quantity of the catches of 

 sea-eggs, turtles, sea-crabs, lobsters, and of the fish usually 

 •caught in fish-pots, and that unless some legislative action 

 be taken in the matter, a considerable amount of suffering 

 will ensue to the fishermen and some of the poorer classes 

 of the island, who live mainly on the fish caught along the 

 ■coast. 



To remedy the existing evils, and to check this alarming 

 ■diminution in the quantity of fish now going on, the Com- 

 mittee recommend : — 



1. (a) That instead of a close season for sea-eggs there 

 .should be established one or more properly policed sanctuaries 

 within which it should be unlawful to take sea-eggs, one of 

 such sanctuaries to be an area bounded by the coast line 

 -extending from ' Woman's Bay ' to ' Long Bay ' in the 



parish of Christ Church, and by a line parallel thereto 

 h mile or more out to sea. 



(i) That the Act establishing such sanctuaries should 

 contain a provision forfeiting all boats, vessels, receptacles, 

 etc. used in the capture or taking of sea-eggs within such, 

 prohibited area. Or, if it be found impracticable to carry 

 out the foregoing recommendation, that there should be 

 a close season for sea-eggs from the first day of January to 

 the thirtieth day of September (both days inclusive) in each 

 year. 



2. That the taking of turtles and their eggs should 

 cease for a period of two years, and that half of the penalty 

 imposed for a breach of the law should go to the informer. 



3. That the meshes of fish-pots should be regulated by 

 statute and that the size of the meshes should not be smaller 

 than 2 inches. 



4-. That it be made an offence to catch sea-crabs and 

 lobsters while spawning. 



5. That the dynamiting of fish be punishable by 

 imprisonment. The Committee further recommend that all 

 the Acts relating to fishing, including the catching of whales 

 and sea-eggs, should be consolidated into one Act embodying 

 the above recommendations. 



These reconuiiendations are based on the report of the 

 majority. One member objects to a close season for sea- 

 eggs on the ground that a close season stinuilates the trade 

 in this article, and thus induces larger catches at certain 

 times, notatily the first few weeks of the open season, and he 

 believes that if the catches were uniform for all parts of the 

 year there would be no cause to worry over the future of the 

 industry. The same member does not believe that a law for 

 the protection of the turtle would prevent a fisherman from 

 capturing such a valuable prize if he got the chance, and 

 consequently, he is not in favour of passing such a law. 



SCIENCE NOTES. 



Flowering of Bamboos. 



Several articles have recently appeared dealing 

 with the flowering of bamboos, and the fatal effect on 

 the plants themselves of the flowering process. 

 A majority of the species mentioned in this connexion 

 are the Chinese and Japanese hardy kinds. That 

 tropical species are liable to the same peculiar fiite, is 

 shown by the following paragraph taken from a brief 

 article entitled 'The Riddle of the Bamboos' by the 

 Right Hon. Sir Herbert E. Maxwell, Bart, M.P., in the 

 Scottisli. Review of December 21, 1905 : — 



This suicidal habit of most bamboos has been recorded 

 by many botanists and travellers during the last hundred 

 years. Whole forests of certain species have been known to 

 disappear in India in a single season, to the manifest 

 inconvenience of the natives who rely on the great canes for 

 housebuilding and many other purposes. Many kinds of 

 trees and plants flower individually, only at long intervals ; 

 others, annuals and biennials, flower but once and die. But 

 the periodicity of bamboos, apparently about thirty-three 

 years, is independent of their age. Old plants and young, 

 lofty and lowlj', all obey the inscrutable mandate at the 

 same moment, and, having complied therewith, perish. 

 Attempts have been made, with partial success in a few cases, 

 to save their lives by cutting down the culms, as soon as 

 they showed signs of flowering. In mo.st instances the plant 

 has resisted this, pushing up new culms in haste, and putting 

 out new flowers, thereby incurring the death penalty. 



