[ 72 1 



An Account of the Scientific Work of the Northumber- 

 land Sea Fisheries Committee. 



By 



Alexander Meek, M.Sc, F.Z.S. 



Tho Durliain College of Sciouce, Newcastle-ou-Tyne. 



Just as a small marine laboratory is being fitted up at CuUercoats, 

 it may be desirable to present to a wider audience a short account 

 of the bcientific work already done — work which has, in fact, given 

 origin to the building now almost ready for occupation. As regards 

 the laboratory, a word may be said. It is small, but it will be pro- 

 vided with a tank-room and tlie essential requirements for carrying 

 on, at any rate, biological investigations. The tanks are made of 

 wood, and will be supplied by gravitation in succession. At the 

 same time a series of glass cylinders can be added in any number, 

 and supplied with sea water in a similar manner. The workroom 

 is very cheery, well lighted and well ventilated, and will accommodate 

 six or even more workers. We are indebted for this most desirable 

 adjunct to the biological department of the College to the Yice- 

 Chairman of the Committee, who has already done so much for local 

 fishery questions. The laboratory will, we hope, not only help in 

 the development of our biological work, but form a centre for enquiry, 

 and thus take a share in the general work of investigation now going 

 on in this country. 



It owes its inception, in fact, to the contributions to this work 

 already made by the Committee. The trawling excursions conducted 

 by Mr. Dent were begun in 1892, and have been continued in suc- 

 cessive years since. Mr. Dent can remember when he could get as 

 many as ten fine turbot with a harpoon any night on Blyth Beach 

 (18()0-G5); at which period, also, he could almost fill a boat with 

 the fish caught in a small drift-net. He witnessed the depletion 

 of these and other bays which occurred after the steam-trawlers 

 commenced to fish in the district (1877). He has seen the consequent 



