APPENDIX C LXXIII 



tions have been made to the library of the station; but many lacunae 

 remain to be filled, especially works dealing with marine faunas. 



The opening of large whaling stations on the north shore of the St. 

 Lawrence will, it is expected, enable the staff of the station to collect 

 much interesting information respecting the structure and habits of 

 whales, their food, biejding resorrs, and seasonal migrations. These 

 valuable creatures are difficult to study in their native habitats ; but the 

 whaling establishments licensed by the Grovernment, and operating for 

 the first time during the past year (1905) afford rare opportunities for 

 gaining information, and making studies on some of the more obscure 

 points in the structure of dift'erent species of the whale order. 



Arrangements were made for testing the Sahlstrom method of prei- 

 serving fish in a fresh condition at the station. Mt. C. Sahlstrom 

 explained to the director (Professor Prince) his vacuum process, though 

 the details have not yet been made public. The late Minister of 

 Marine and Fisheries evincel great interest in the project, which it is 

 claimed will preserve freshly-caught fish in a sweet unchanged condition 

 for many months. Circumstances made it necessary to erect the 

 apparatus at Halifax, jSi.S. ; but the samples of preserved haddock, etc., 

 submitted to the director of the station were pronounced wonderfully 

 well-preserved, the texture of the fiesh being firm and unaltered, and the 

 edible qualities excellent; but the external appearance of the fish was 

 not inviting and could no doubt be improved. 



The activity in the prosecution of practical fishery work and ori- 

 ginal scientific investigation by the station's staff has continued un- 

 abated, and the second part of the " Contributions to Canadian 

 Biology" with ten beautiful plates is in the King's Printer's hands m 

 an advanced condition, and will be reaidy for issue at an early date. 

 The nature of these reports, constituting the second part of these "Con- 

 tributions," has already been announced; but a delay which arose in 

 completing the series permitted of some additional reports being in- 

 eluded, and the publication will embrace : — " The Plankton of Eastern 

 Nova Scotia waters " by Prof. K. E. Wright, with seven beautiful plates : 

 " The question of Sawdust and Fish-life," a further report and a final 

 report by Professor Knight, also " Effects of Dynamite Explosions on 

 Fish-life," by Professor Knight; ''The Flora of Canso," by Professor 

 Fowler ; " Fauna of the Atlantic coast," by Dr. Stafford ; and " Trema- 

 tode Parasites of Marine Fishes," by the same; "Diatoms of Canôo 

 Harbour." by Dr. A. H. MacKay; "Life-history of herring, ale-wife, 

 shad, etc.," by Professor Prince, with three tinted plates ; " The Polyzaa 

 and Fishes of Canso," by Mr. Cornish; " Sea-weeds of Canso," by Prin- 

 cipal Robinson; and Professor Prince's account of Dr. Macallum's re- 

 Bearches upon the composition of jelly fishes. 



