xxxvi 



TENTH AWARD OF THE SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 



AND GRANT. 



(Fund raised by Members of the British Associatian in 

 commemoration of their visit to South Africa in 1905.) 



After the conclusion of the Presidential Address in the Hall 

 of the Conservatorium, on Monday, July 3, 191 7, the President, 

 Prof. J. Orr, handed the South Africa Medal and ( irant of £50 to 

 Prof. John Dow Fisher Gilchrist, M.A., D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S., 

 G.M.Z.S. In making the presentation, the President said: — 



Dr. Gilchrist studied Zoology at the Universities of Edin- 

 burgh, Munich and Zurich. Thereafter he specialized in Marine 

 Zoology, and carried out original work at the Naples and other 

 Marine Biological Stations. He was then for a time Assistant 

 in the Zoological Department of the University of Edinburgh, 

 after which he was, on the nomination of Sir John Murray and 

 Prof. MTntosh, F.R.S., appointed Marine Biologist to the Gov- 

 ernment of the Cape of Good Hope. On his recommendation, 

 a Marine Biological Survey was undertaken by the Cape Govern- 

 ment, and he was entrusted with the purchase and equipment of 

 a steam vessel, which he specially designed for this purp<;)se. 

 The results of this work, carried out under his direction, have 

 been of great scientific importance, and have been published 

 in a series of Reports to the Government, and in " Marine Inves- 

 tigations in South Africa," as well as in other scientific publica- 

 tions. At the request of the Government of Natal, the survey 

 was extended to Natal waters, in view of the results attained, 

 and further valuable information was secured. The large collec- 

 tions made have not yet been fully reported on, but over 450 

 genera and species of marine animals new to science have now 

 been described, besides many more new to the South African 

 seas. 



On Dr. Gilchrist's recommendation, a Marine Biological 

 . Laboratory was built at St. James, in False Bay, in connection 

 with Marine Biological research, and further information with 

 reference to the habits of South African marine animals has 

 been obtained, particularly with regard to the eggs and earlv 

 stages of South African fishes, a subject hitherto entirely un- 

 investigated. 



The practical results of this scientific work have been of 

 great importance to South Africa. Extensive new fishery areas, 

 particularly on the Agulhas Bank, have been discovered, and 

 these have been shewn to abound in fish, particularly soles, for- 

 merly a rarity in South Africa. The exploratory work has been 

 followed up by private enterprise, including a new trawling in- 

 dustry, and now representing a capital of over £150,000. 



In the year 1905 Dr. Gilchrist was appointed to the post of 

 Professor of Zoology in the South African College, and has 



