[ 2.S2 ] 



Director's Report. 



The various researches detailed in my last Report, which are being 

 conducted by the Association's Naturalists, have been continued during 

 the winter. Mr. Garstang has been chiefly occupied in investigations 

 relating to the migratory pelagic fishes, giving special attention to the 

 characteristics of mackerel from different localities, some 1500 of these 

 fish having been subjected to detailed examination in the course of this 

 enquiry. The samples of mackerel have been obtained from the south- 

 west of Ireland (through H.M. Inspectors of Irish Fisheries), from the 

 North Sea and from America, in addition to those captured near 

 Plymouth. As the results so far obtained refer only to the autumn 

 fish, it has been thought better to defer their publication until after the 

 coming spring fishery, when further samples from the same localities, as 

 well as from the Mediterranean and from Norway, will be examined. 



Mr. Garstang has also given much time to working out the results 

 of the drift-bottle experiments, a report of which for the year 1897 will 

 be found at p. 199. These experiments have proved more interesting 

 and successful than we had anticipated when they were undertaken, 

 and we purpose continuing and extending them during the coming 

 year. 



Mr. Holt's papers in the present number of the Journal represent but 

 a portion of the many observations which he has been able to make 

 during the year on the eggs and larvae of fishes. He has also given 

 much attention to the question of the distribution of fish at different 

 ages in this neighbourhood. 



The following is the list of workers at the Laboratory since my last 

 Report : — 



Brebner, G., August 17th to August 31st (Marine Algce). 



Browne, E. T., b.a., August 2il:th to October 9 th {Mcduscc). 



Church, A. H., b.a., December 20th to January 20th (Marine Algcc). 



Cunningham, J. T., m.a. (Crabs). 



Jenkinson, J. W., b.a., September 9th to September 30th (Crustacean 

 Larvce). 



Lanchester, W. R, August 24th to September 29th (Phoronis). 



Lubbock, M., m.d., August 9th to September 9th (Fishes). 



Minchin, E. A., M.A., January 8th to January 19th (Protozoa). 



Taylor, T. H., m a., August 25th to September 12th (Polijzoa). 



