298 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



agreed to on all hands. We looked for something more 

 from this Conference. Their one definite recommendation 

 (see "Resolutions Textuelles," p. 12) to the governments 

 concerned, is in regard to the establishment of the 

 central bureau, in which the work will apparently, in 

 large part, be that of a physico-chemical laboratory. I do 

 not think that, after what I have written in previous 

 L.M.B.C. Reports, I can be accused of under-valuing the 

 importance of hydrographic work, in its connection with 

 the fisheries, as carried out of late years chiefly by the 

 Scandinavians ; but it seems curious, to say the least of 

 it, that the obvious biological investigations of primary 

 importance have been passed so lightly over, while the 

 secondary hydrographic investigations are strongly urged. 

 The impression given by the Report is, certainly, that it 

 has been drawn up by hydrographers, and not by 

 biologists. 



There are points of detail in the report that might be 

 criticised if it were worth while — such as that the sea- 

 area, proposed by the Conference, to be covered by the 

 hydrographic investigations should certainly be extended 

 so as to include the English Channel and the Irish Sea — 

 and probably, also, the west coast of Ireland. At any 

 rate, the omission of the whole of the Irish Sea from a 

 scheme undertaken (so far as our government delegates 

 were concerned) in the interests of the British fisheries 

 requires explanation. 



It has been pointed out, by another critic, that the best 

 course for the British government to pursue, in order to 

 give effect to the report of the Stockholm Conference, is 

 to develop, and, as far as possible, co-ordinate the work 

 of the various institutions already in existence, such as 

 the Marine Biological Association and the Scottish Fishery 

 Board, at the same time encouraging the formation of 



