136 OPENING OF THE MARINE 



least specialised to the greatest fish — what a field there was 

 for research and for tracing out evidences of that wonderful 

 revelation of continuous development from the lower to 

 higher forms — a revelation which we owed mainly to the 

 indefatigable observation and marvellous structural genius of 

 that great man whose biography was now interesting us ! 

 Who could tell what results would follow from scientific 

 observations on the practice of the industry they were met to 

 promote ? He would conclude by heartily wishing, as he was 

 sure that all present did, " Success to the Laboratory/^ and 

 he had great pleasure in coupling with the toast the name of 

 one to whom the Laboratory and the Association owed so 

 deep a debt of gratitude — Professor Ray Lankester. 



Prof. Eay Lankestee said it was with feelings of pride 

 that he rose to return thanks. He felt in the happy position 

 of one who had seen a dream realised. The Laboratory 

 which had been that day opened was due entirely to the 

 associated work of a number of individuals, and, in fact, 

 he thought that the Marine Biological Association must 

 be regarded as a remarkable example of the combination of 

 individuals for a common purpose. The Association was 

 started in the first instance by a few scientific men, who 

 gradually obtained the co-operation of practical and wealthy 

 men and of great Corporations, until they were at last able 

 to bring into existence the institution they had seen that 

 day. Perhaps he might be allowed on that occasion to give 

 a brief history of the steps which the Association had gone 

 through in the gradual evolution of that building, but before 

 doing so he wished to say just a word as to the general 

 purposes of the Laboratory and the work of the Association. 

 It had been stated elsewhere — though he thought no one 

 present was likely to make the mistake — that the Association 

 was not intended for purely scientific research but for 

 inquiries with a practical end in view. He thought he 

 might be allowed to say that such a distinction could not be 

 drawn. All purely scientific research had a practical end. 

 They might not be able to tell what the practical end might 

 be ; but they pursued scientific research with the conviction 

 that the progress of knowledge must lead to practical 



