222 director's report. 



believe, consider that the Association possesses a well-equipped 

 laboratory, capable of turning out a large amount of valuable scientific 

 and economic work, without any considerable increase of the income at 

 present at our command. It must not be forgotten, however, that the 

 above estimate only allows for one naturalist on the staff of the Associa- 

 tion, who can devote any considerable proportion of his time to carrying 

 on research. Further development must then be sought for in the 

 direction of obtaining funds for the appointment of additional natural- 

 ists on the staff, for the resources of the Laboratory will be sufficient 

 to keep several investigators constantly employed, without much 

 additional expense beyond their salaries. 



Efforts should also be made in all possible directions to induce public 

 bodies to offer scholarships for biological research, which might be held 

 at Plymouth. A number of scholarships are already given to enable the 

 holders to prosecute technical researches in Chemistry and Physics, and 

 if biologists take the matter up, there seems no reason why some of 

 these should not be obtained for fishery investigations. With regard to 

 scholarships for purely scientific work, it is remarkable that whilst the 

 facilities offered to able men, to pursue scientific study up to the 

 examination standard, are by no means limited, opportunities for carry- 

 ing their work to a legitimate conclusion appear to be granted to but 

 few. Year after year numbers of men turn aside directly they reach 

 the point where their real scientific training may be said to commence. 

 These are the men, whose services in the interests of the Association, or, 

 which is saying the same thing, in the interests of Biology in this 

 country, we should endeavour to retain. 



E. J. Allen. 



January, 1896. 



POSTSCEIPT. 



Since the above report was in the press an opportunity of securing a 

 small steam fishing yacht, upon advantageous terms, has presented 

 itself, and as the vessel appeared to be exactly suited to the work of 

 the Association, the Council decided that it would be advisable to 

 purchase without delay. The yacht, the Busy Bee, of Fowey, is now in 

 our possession, and it is hoped that the confidence of the Council that 

 the supporters of the Association, by subscribing the necessary funds, 

 will recognise the wisdom of the course they have pursued, may not 

 prove to be misplaced. 



I am glad to announce that Mr. J. P. Thomasson has already been 

 kind enough to make a donation of £100 towards the purchase money. 

 A sum of £G00 is required, and subscriptions may be sent either to the 

 Hon. Treasurer, or to myself. 



E. J. A. 



Fehruunj IZlh, 1896. 



