OBJECTS 



OF THE 



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Founded " for the purpose of establishing and maintaining Labor- 

 atories on the Coast of the United Kingdom, where accurate researches 

 may be carried on leading to the improvement of Zoological and 

 Botanical Science, and to an increase of our knowledge as regards 

 the food, life-conditions, and habits of British Food-fishes and 

 Molluscs.'' 



The Association was founded at a Meeting called for the purpose 

 in March, 1884, and held in the Eooms of the Eoyal Society of 

 London. 



Professor Huxley, the President of the Royal Society, took the 

 chair, and amongst the speakers in support of the project were the 

 Duke of Argyll, Sir Lyon Playfaie, Sir John Lubbock, Sir Joseph 

 HooKEE, the late Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Gunther, the late Lord Dal- 

 HOUsiE, Professor Moseley, Dr. Romanes, and Professor Lankestee. 



The Association owes its existence and its present satisfactory 

 condition to a combination of scientific naturalists, and of gentlemen 

 who, from philanthropic or practical reasons, are specially interested 

 in the great sea fisheries of the United Kingdom. It is universally 

 admitted that our knowledge of the habits and conditions of life of 

 sea fishes is very small, and insufficient to enable either the practical 

 fisherman or the Legislature to take measures calculated to ensure 

 to the country the greatest return from the " harvest of the sea." 

 Naturalists are, on the other hand, anxious to push further our 

 knowledge of marine life and its conditions. Hence the Association 

 has erected at Plymouth a thoroughly efficient Laboratory, where 



