BIOLOGICAL LABOEATOEY. 129 



which our maritime and insular position seems so specially 

 to fit us. That our country should be alone in neglecting 

 this branch of scientific inquiry was impossible. Stations 

 for the investigation of the phenomena of marine life have 

 been founded at several places on the northern coasts of our 

 island, but all on a very limited scale. An institution com- 

 mensurate with the importance of the subject and of the 

 nation had to be established sooner or later. The only 

 questions to be solved were, ivhen it was to be founded and 

 luliere it was to be placed. Much of the success of an 

 enterprise must depend upon the particular time selected 

 for embarking upon it. If delayed too long, the world is a 

 loser by the non-existence of the knowledge that is to be 

 gained from it. On the other hand, premature attempts, 

 before sufficient interest in the subject is awakened, and 

 before sufficient information as to the best means of carrying 

 it out has been gained, often end in failure. I think that 

 in this respect we have taken the right medium. The 

 Fisheries Exhibition at South Kensington in 1883 brought 

 the importance of the enormous food-supply that the sea 

 yields, and the necessity of obtaining more knowledge of 

 how it might best be cultivated and harvested, prominently 

 before the public, and although the profits of the Exhibition 

 were of no direct benefit to our institution, it was doubtless 

 a means of exciting attention to our work. The interest 

 which H.R.H. the Prince of Wales took in that Exhibition 

 was extended to this Association when he became its 

 patron and a liberal contributor to its funds. I think 

 that I may say the same of the Worshipful Company of 

 Fishmongers of the City of London, without whose en- 

 lightened and munificent support we should certainly not be 

 in the position we occupy at present. We were also fortu- 

 nate at the time of our foundation in having a Government 

 in office which recognised the practical importance of our 

 work, as calculated to benefit not only the interests of the 

 fishing industry, but those of the community at large, and 

 liberally responded to our appeal for assistance in this 

 national undertaking, both in providing funds and a site for 

 a building. 



