90 THE SCIENTIEIO WORK OP THE 



obtaining the samples and in carrying on the research^ and a large 

 number of micro-organisms are described. 



The results of a bacteriological investigation of " red " cod^ by 

 Dr. Alexander Edington, are given in the Report for this year,* and 

 a Note on the Nature of Red God, by Professor Ewart.f 



In each Annual Report Prof. Mcintosh has supplied a number 

 of brief but interesting notes dealing with a great variety of topics 

 concerning marine life, such as the ova, development, and young 

 of fishes, the diseases of fishes, new or rare forms, &c. These notes 

 are, as a rule, so brief and numerous that it is not possible to make 

 an abstract of them. In this year's Report Prof. Mcintosh refers 

 to the use of Annelids as bait, and shows how pressing the question 

 of bait is becoming. 



Physical Investigations. 



The investigation of the physical conditions of the sea forms an 

 important part of the scientific work connected with fisheries. It is 

 not, however, always easy to carry on such inquiries as thoroughly 

 as might be desired, for it is a matter of great importance that they 

 should be continuous, and conducted at as many points as possible. 

 The measures adopted by the Fishery Board have consisted (1) in 

 utilising as far as possible the fishery cruisers in the service of the 

 Board ; (2) in instituting special cruises to investigate the physical 

 conditions of particular areas ; (3) in carrying on series of observa- 

 tions on board the " Garland '^ during the trawling experiments. 

 The data supplied from the first source have not as yet been pub- 

 lished, owing chiefly to want of space for the extensive Tables ; 

 the " Garland's " observations have been given in the Tables in 

 connection with the trawling reports, and the investigations into 

 particular areas are referred to below. The system of physical 

 inquiries is now in process of reorganisation, and it is to be hoped 

 that it may be found possible to carry on continuous observations 

 at several parts of the Scottish coast. Arrangements have been 

 completed with the Northern Lighthouse Board by which daily 

 observations on the temperature and density of the sea will be 

 recorded by the officers on board the lightships and at the various 

 lighthouse stations in the area embracing the estuary of the Tay, 

 St. Andrew's Bay, and the Firth of Forth. Since this area includes 

 that in which the pinncipal biological investigations are going on, 



* Sixth Report, p. 207, pis. vi, vii, 1888. 

 t Op. cit., p. 204. 



