PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 15 



Last year I alluded to the biological exploration of the Blue 

 Lake, Mount Koscuisko, by Professor David and colleagues; and 

 as it has since happened the examination then made was most 

 opportune. A few months after Prof. David's visit, the Council 

 of this Society learned that the Fisheries Department contem- 

 plated taking steps to stock the Blue Lake, amongst other inland 

 waters, with introduced trout. The importance of a minute 

 biological survey of undisturbed inland lakes is now thoroughly 

 recognised, as witness the elaborate work being carried out on such 

 in Britain, America and elsewhere, and the Council accordingly^ 

 approached the Fisheries Board with a view to having the Blue 

 Lake left undisturbed. The Board courteously replied that for 

 the present the proposed introduction of trout would not be 

 carried out. The Fisheries Board will, I am sure, support the 

 efforts of this Society to retain intact some at least of the smaller 

 patches of undisturbed watei-, for the benefit of science. 



Jn last year's Address mention was made of a grant from the 

 Royal Society of London to Professor Haswell for deep-sea 

 dredging. The first expedition, which was made in June last, 

 met with somewhat disappointing results owing to stormy weather. 

 A second and very successful excursion was carried out in Octo- 

 ber, the spot dredged being about 35 miles east of Sydney, on 

 the 152nd meridian, in 800 fathoms depth. B}^ the use of the 

 bucket dredge and a small trawl modelled on that recommended 

 by the Prince of Monaco, a varied assortment of most interesting 

 forms was obtained. The organisms secured by tow-netting at 

 the first excursion have in part been already described in the 

 Records of the Australian Museum. Descriptions of the animals 

 procured on thespcond trip, by various authors, are well advanced 

 and will be published shortly. 1 am pleased to say that the 

 Royal Society of London and the Australian Association for the 

 Advancement of Science have provided funds for further carrying- 

 on of dredging operations, and Admiral Field hns placed a well- 

 equipped sounding machine at the disposal of Professor Haswell. 



