8 



Tables have been occupied by Prof. F. J. Cole, Major Bishop, 

 Mr. Haselhurst, and several members of the Northumberland 

 Coast Club. The Laboratory has been visited by several 

 members of the permanent staff of the Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries, by Professor W. A. Herdman, Liverpool, by Mr. 

 Minchin of the British Sea Anglers' Society, by Mr. T. Kitahara 

 of the Fishery Department of Japan, and others. The aquarium 

 has been visited by various institutions and schools. 



The only attempt at experimental trawling was made on 

 June 29th, 1911. As soon as the net was launched, it was 

 caught by an anchor or something of the kind, and in the efforts 

 to release it the beam was broken. It was felt at the same time 

 that although the "Evadne" could do the work, it was a heavy 

 strain, and the crew was too limited to carry it on with the 

 efficiency which would produce results as good as those to be 

 obtained with a larger vessel. This side of the work has there- 

 fore been temporarily suspended. It Avill perhaps be advisable 

 to allow it to remain in that state until we see what grant will 

 accrue to this district from the Development Commissioners, and 

 what proposals are made by the Board for a more thorough-going 

 investigation into the resources of the district, and into such 

 problems as migrations, the herring, undersized fish, and so 

 on, when the grant is distributed. It is possible then that 

 a suggestion will be made for parallel investigation with similar 

 outfit and conducted under similar conditions generally. 



As was stated in the reports for the last two years application 

 was made for a grant in aid of the fishery investigations done at 

 the Laboratory from the funds at the disposal of the Development 

 Commissioners. The general scheme which the Board of 

 Agriculture and Fisheries had prepared and sent to the Com- 

 missioners has not yet been approved, but we are assured that 

 the application made on behalf of the Laboratory is included, and 

 that the Laboratory will be called upon to take part in the general 

 scheme of investigation. In the meanwhile, certain interim 

 grants have been made to Committees and Laboratories in 

 England. Northumberland is not included in this list. At the 

 meeting of representatives of Fisheries held on June 25th the 

 reason for this omission was asked, and the reply given by the 

 President was that we had applied for new work, and the grants 

 were made for work which was being carried on at present. 



