a whole-hearted representative on the Northumberland Sea 

 Fisheries Committee and at many enquiries where the interests 

 of trawl fisheries were involved by the death of William Purdy, 

 on December 31st, 1912. He took a great interest in the work of 

 the Laboratory, and we have reason to be grateful for the con- 

 stant and ready facilities he gave for our work at North Shields 

 and at sea. 



Inshore fisheries lost also, on 12th June, 1913, its Grand Old 

 Man by the death of John Douglas, Beadnell. All who have 

 followed the accounts which have been given for a large number 

 of years of the migration experiments with reference to the crab 

 and the lobster will know that it was through Mr. Douglas that 

 these experiments have been so successful. It will be seen from 

 the paper which is given in this Report on the Migrations of the 

 Crab that one of the last duties he performed was to mark and 

 liberate 500 crabs, and the results show that the work was 

 carried out with characteristic care and selection. He was also 

 a member of the Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee, and, 

 as his brother fishermen are well aware, he was keenly interested 

 in all questions affecting inshore fisheries. He had views regard- 

 ing the natural conservation of the local fishing grounds, which 

 he did his best by example and precept to inculcate. He was 

 a diligent observer, and his kindly nature endeared him to all 

 with whom he came in contact. 



Reference was made in the last Report to the fate of our 

 application to the Development Commissioners for a grant in aid 

 of our Fishery Investigations. The report of the Board has not 

 yet been j^resented to the Commissioners, and in the meantime 

 a small interim grant has been given to the Laboratory. 



Alexander Meek. 

 30th June, 1913. 



