150 EEPORT OP THE 



4. That besides the trained morpliologists and zoologists, 

 some of whom are now at work in the Laboratory, strong 

 efforts slionld be made to induce such of the fishermen who 

 are sufficiently intelligent and trustworthy to record observa- 

 tions.* 



5. The condition of the Sound is sucli, artificially bounded 

 as it is by a huge breakwater, diluted continually by two 

 relatively large streams of fresh-water, carrying down with 

 them sewage from Devonport, Stonehouse, Stoke, and 

 Pl^miouth, and refuse from china clay works, &c. ; constantly 

 invaded and stirred up by fleets of vessels and steamers, 

 many of them drawing thirty feet of water, when the depth 

 of the Sound is (with the exception of some few places) not 

 more than six fathoms, that I am of opinion that all observa- 

 tions of any kind whatsoever carried on in the Sound must be 

 considered only in relation to similar observations carried on 

 at sea and along the coast outside the Sound. Results 

 formulated from data collected only within the Sound would, 

 in my opinion, be entirely misleading, while, on the other hand, 

 it would be of extreme interest to observe the effects of the 

 streams of fresh-water, of the artificial conditions, sewage, 

 &c., within the Sound, by comparing observations collected 

 there with observations obtained outside the Sound. 



6. That the facility of ultimate generalisation will 

 depend upon the completeness of the system used throughout 

 in recording observations. 



A. Scheme for recording specimens. 



1. The capture of each species should be recorded on 

 a sheet. Whenever a specimen is obtained it should be 

 recorded on the sheet set apart for it and the required 

 information, data, station, depth at which it is obtained, 

 nature of bottom, tide, wind, temperature of sea and air, 

 density of the water, &c., recorded in the columns pre- 

 pared. It would thus be seen at a glance under what con- 



* I do not doubt a sufficient number of intelligent men could be obtained 

 wbose practical knowledge and iudependunt observation would be of great help 

 to the Association. 



