those of the Northumberland Coast shoal, and these con>:idcra- 

 tions, together with the observations we have already published 

 as to the source of the post larval herring of the Tyne, give good 

 grounds for saying that a large section of the herrings of the North- 

 umberland Coast is composed of young fish which afterwards 

 become the spring spawners of the Firth of Forth. 



To this account is appended a statement as to the growth 

 of the 1914 samples, which were examined to furnish data for 

 racial investigations. 



Mr. Storrow also gives an account of the age and growth 

 of a Ballan Wrasse, which was kept under observation from 1915 

 to 1917, and has furnished the welcome evidence that the growth 

 and the age as determined by the scales coincide with the history 

 during the same period in the free condition. 



The above will serve to illustrate the relationship of North- 

 umberland with the east coast of Scotland, and the desirability 

 of linking up our work with that of Scotland. It will also serve 

 as an excuse for our expression of disappointment that the con- 

 ferences with reference to reconstruction have not resulted in 

 marine research being made a National rather than a Departmental 

 affair. The movement for nationalisation began with a view 

 to centralising administration, but the opposition of Scotland 

 to the scheme was sufficient to bring it to an untimely end. 

 Nevertheless, even if it were found too difficult to unify adminis- 

 tration, it was obviously more than desirable to take steps to 

 co-ordinate fishery and marine investigations, while recognising 

 and admitting that administration should be closely identified 

 with investigation. Home Rule in both respects is uneconomical 

 and ineffective. Legislation, w^hich should be national in character, 

 tends to be hindered rather than promoted, and moreover political 

 boundaries have no significance in the sea. From the point of 

 view of research it ought to be recognised and understood that 

 our coasts are intimately linked together and with the seas around 

 our islands. 



"When new schemes of research in fisheries are formulated, 

 it appears to be forgotten or overlooked that a vast accumulation 

 of material is in existence resulting from the many investigations 



