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The Scottish Marine Station and its Work. 



By 'Vrilliam K. Hoyle, H.A. 



The " Scottish Marine Station for Scientific Researcli '' 

 has now been at work for a little over four years, so that the 

 present seems a fair opportunity to inquire what has been 

 accomplished by its means. The object of the present article 

 is to supply this iuformation, and to show to what extent the 

 results obtained have justified the expectations of its pro- 

 moters. 



It may be well at the outset to lay before the reader in a 

 few words the circumstances which led to the establishment 

 of this institution, as well as the means which have been at 

 its disposal. The nucleus of its pecuniary resources was a 

 sum of £1400, the surplus from the Edinburgh Fisheries 

 Exhibition of 1882, which was handed over to the Scottish 

 Meteorological Society for the purpose of carrying on inves- 

 tigations which they had already commenced into the herring 

 and other fisheries, '' with power to establish a zoological 

 station and also to endeavour to get Government to assist 

 them in the work." The application to Government for 

 assistance was unsuccessful. Dr. John Murray, of the 

 " Challenger " expedition, however, offered to found a zoo- 

 logical station, and to maintain it for at least three years, 

 provided the Council of the Society would give him an 

 annual grant from the fund of £250 for these years. This 

 offer was accepted, and on April 14th, 1884, the Institution 

 was inaugurated, and systematic work commenced. At the 

 outset Dr. Murray received assistance from friends and 

 others interested in the work, and has also received grants 

 from the British Association, and the Government Grant 

 Committee. 



The station had its head-quarters in the old quarry at 

 Granton, about two miles and a half distant from Leith, 



