142 REPORT OF TIIK COUNCIL. 



Crustacea collected by Prof. Herdman in Parjet Sound, Pacific Coast rf North 



America. A. 0. Walker. 

 Hiirpolyte fascicjera (Gosse) and H. r/ma/w (Heller). A. O. Walker. 

 Malacostraca from the IF'st Goad of Ireland. A. 0. Walker. 



General Report. 



The investigation of the natural history of the mackerel, undertaken 

 at the request of H.M. Treasury, has been continued during the year, 

 and a report on the variation, races, and migrations of this fish has been 

 prepared by Mr. Garstang and published in the Journal of the Associa- 

 tion. This report establishes clearly that the mackerel of the American 

 and European coasts are two separate races of fish, having different 

 characteristic peculiarities, and also reveals the existence of certain 

 minor peculiarities which appear to distinguish the Irish mackerel from 

 those which inhabit the English Channel and North Sea. The accept- 

 ance of these conclusions will profoundly modify the views which have 

 hitherto been prevalent as to the extent of the mackerel's migrations. 



Mr. Garstang has also undertaken a study of the physical and bio- 

 logical conditions prevailing in the waters at the mouth of the English 

 Channel, with special reference to the seasonal changes of temperature, 

 the varying set of the currents, and the distribution of the floating and 

 free-swimming organisms which are found at different seasons of the 

 year. It is to be expected that this study will throw light upon the 

 causes which determine the movements of such migratory fishes as the 

 mackerel, the herring, and the pilchard. If this expectation be fulfilled, 

 it will be possible for a naturalist having a properly equipped vessel at 

 his disposal to determine the most probable position of the schools of 

 fishes from his examination of the condition of the water at any given 

 time. Such a result would be of immediate practical benefit to fisher- 

 men, as it would lead to the substitution of more intelligent methods of 

 procedure in place of the unsatisfactory empirical practices of the 

 present time. 



A final report has been drawn up by Mr. Holt on the examination of 

 the bays on the south coast of Devon, an investigation which was 

 undertaken by the Association at the request of the Devon Sea 

 Fisheries Committee. This report has been submitted to the Com- 

 mittee and also published in the Journal of the Association. 



An examination of the fish population in the estuarine waters of the 

 Hamoaze at each season of the year, commenced two years ago by Mr. 

 Holt, has been continued during the present year. Valuable evidence 

 is thus being accumulated on the question of the movements of bottom- 

 living fishes in the inshore waters. 



The investigation of the fauna and bottom deposits on the grounds 



