director's report. 417 



usual grant of £1000 to the Association, the Lords Commissioners of 

 H.M. Treasury have made it a condition of the grant tliat the 

 Association will give all the assistance in its power to the Inspectors of 

 Irish Fisheries in investigations which they desire to be made on the 

 habits, etc., of the mackerel visiting the Irish coast. In connection 

 with this subject, a report is being prepared upon the present state of 

 knowledge of the natural history of the mackerel in all parts of the 

 world. 



Mr. Cunningham's book on the Natural History of the Marketable 

 Marine Fishes of the British Islands, which has been published for the 

 Association by Messrs. Macmillan & Co., has been very favourably 

 noticed by the Press, and there seems little doubt but that it will be 

 regarded as a standard popular work on the subject. 



The system of filtering sea -water through layers of blanketing, 

 which was devised in connection with the hatchery at Dunbar, has been 

 adopted for the Aquarium here with satisfactory results. The supply of 

 water from the sea has been greatly interfered with owing to the pipe 

 which brings the water to the ejector having been damaged by the 

 stranding of the steamship Ariel on the rocks below the Laboratory. 

 The pipe has been repaired, and we are advised that the owners are 

 liable for the damage done. 



The Busy Bee, which has now been in regular use for twelve months, 

 continues in good condition, and has given very little trouble in the way 

 of repairs. We have found her coal consumption remarkably low, and 

 the expense of running her has been considerably less than was 

 anticipated. We are now having a compact trawling winch, capable of 

 carrying a drum of wire-rope, built for her, which will greatly increase 

 her usefulness. 



I regret to say that the whole of the money for this vessel has not 

 yet been subscribed. With the necessary fittings, including the winch, 

 a sum of nearly £700 has been spent. Towards this amount, as will be 

 seen from the list which follows this Report, £537 14s. has been given. 

 We are very anxious that the balance should be met during the present 

 financial year, which ends in May. 



E. J. Allen. 



February, 1897. 



