1903.] Mr. J. Y. Buchanan on Oceanic -Research. 357 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, May 29, 1903. 



Sir Wm. Crookes, F.R.S., Honorary Secretary and Vice-President, 



in the Chair. 



J. Y. Buchanan, Esq., F.R.S. 3LB.I. 

 (In the absence of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco.) 



Historical Remarks on Some Problems and Methods of 

 Oceanic Research. 



[Sir William Crookes read a telegram from H.S.H. The Prince of Monaco, 

 expressing his regret that owing to his accident he was unable to deliver the 

 discourse, but that he was in a fair way to recovery.] 



The telegram which Sir William Crookes has just read must re- 

 assure you, as it has reassured me, in regard to the possible conse- 

 quences of the accident which has befallen H.S.H. the Prince of 

 Monaco. 



It happened only four days before the great Paris-Madrid race 

 in which so many people were killed and injured, and it must be a 

 matter of congratulation to all of us that the accident to Ihe Prince, 

 though serious enough in itself, was of small account compared with 

 these, and that it is unlikely that it will interfere in any way with 

 his oceanographical work of this season, which is to deal with an 

 economic question of the greatest importance to France, namely, the 

 migration of the sardine. The disappearance of the sardine from 

 many of the usual fishing grounds has caused much distress amongst 

 the French fishing folk. When the matter was brought under His 

 Highness' notice by the French Government he immediately offered 

 the services of his ship and her appliances, and of himself and his 

 staff to be devoted exclusively for the whole season to the elucidation 

 of this question. 



This fact alone will show you how great the Prince is as a man 

 and how world-wide are his sympathies. 



You will easily understand that I must claim the greatest 

 indulgence from you in my endeavour to fill the place left vacant 

 owing to his unfortunate accident. 



It would manifestly be impertinent if I were to try to imagine 

 what he would have said and to give it to you at second hand. I 

 may, however, be permitted, before passing on to matters more closely 

 connected with my own experience, to say a few words about the 

 history of the Prince's connection with the sea, and how he has come 

 to be the scientific centre as well as the powerful patron of every- 

 thing connected with oceanic research. He began his sea life as a 



