EEPOET OF THE COUNCIL. 57 



neighbourhood of Plymouth, the Director has continued to pay special 

 attention to the Polychseta, whilst Mr. Crawshay is commencing a 

 study of the Sponges. 



Mr. G. E. Bullen has continued from time to time the observations 

 on the food of the mackerel and other migratory fishes. Since the 

 present spring mackerel season has been characterized by the immense 

 abundance of fish, whilst last year they were very scanty, a comparison 

 of the physical and biological conditions of the two periods is of great 

 interest. 



Mr. T. V. Hodgson has occupied a table in the Laboratory during the 

 whole year, and has been engaged in working out the material which 

 he collected in the Antarctic. 



The International Fishery Investigations. 



The following is a summary of the work done, and of the conclusions 

 arrived at by the scientific staff working under the direction of the 

 Council. 



Section I.— NORTH SEA WORK. 

 A. WOKK OF THE S.S. "HUXLEY." 



Tkawling Investigations. — From June 1906 to the end of May 

 1907 the Hu-deij made 15 fishing voyages, during which 198 hauls of 

 the large commercial trawls were made in connection with the scientific 

 survey in progress. The boat was again laid up at Grimsby during 

 December and January. 



From the beginning of the investigations 90 voyages have been com- 

 pleted by the Huxley, and the result of 1,078 hauls with the large 

 trawls systematically recorded. On many occasions fine-meshed nets 

 have been attached outside the cod-end, and other parts of the com- 

 mercial trawl, in order to throw light on the proportions of small fish 

 which escape through the meshes. 



In August 1906 a temporary exchange of steamers was effected 

 between the Lowestoft and Plymouth Laboratories, in order to facilitate 

 an investigation of the Thames Estuary, which was carried out very 

 satisfactorily by the s.s. Oithona. Two members of the Lowestoft staff 

 had charge of the work, and were kindly assisted by Dr. James Murie, 

 of Leigh, Essex, who was present on board the vessel throughout the 

 voyage. The otter trawl was shot on 44 occasions. 



Fish Measured. — More than 100,000 measurements of fish, repre- 

 sentative of the total catch on almost every occasion, were made and 

 recorded at sea during the past year. 



