Director’s Report.—No. I. 
Or the work undertaken during the winter 1892-8, and before 
my arrival at Plymouth in April, I must report that, as in the 
preceding winter, the anchovy nets were shot by the fishermen to 
whom they were entrusted, but unfortunately without satisfactory 
results. 
In consequence of representations made to the Devon Sea 
Fisheries Committee and also to the Board of Trade by my prede- 
cessor, Mr. Calderwood, the following addition has been made by the 
Board of Trade to the Bye-laws which were submitted to them by 
the Committee for revision : 
“ Nothing in these Bye-laws contained shall apply to a person 
fishing solely for scientific purposes, under the written authority on 
that behalf of the Local Fisheries Committee of that district, signed 
by their clerk, and subject to the conditions contained in that 
authority.” The permit in question will be granted, in due course, 
to the fishermen working for the Laboratory. 
Under the regulations which fixed the shortest term for the 
renting of a table in the Laboratory at a month, but few workers 
have visited us during the short Christmas and Easter vacations. 
Now that the minimum charge is for one week (at the rate of thirty 
shillings), facilities are given for a short stay at Plymouth. This 
should induce investigators to take any opportunity which may 
occur at any time of the year to collect seasonable material, or 
to study living animals and plants available for the time being. 
The weekly announcements in “ Nature’”’ of new finds, of the 
composition of the Plankton, and of the animals breeding, will, it is 
hoped, prove useful by indicating what special material is being 
procured during the ordinary course of dredging and tow-netting. 
Dr. S. J. Hickson continued his studies on Alcyonium last Christ- 
mas. During the month of April, Mr. Riches recommenced his 
word on the Nemertines of Plymouth ; Mr. Maurice 8. Evans, F.Z.S., 
F.R.G.S., was instructed in the methods of collecting and preserving 
marine animals before his return to Natal. Dr. G. J. Romanes, a 
Governor of the Association, sent his representative to occupy a 
table. 
The sea water circulating through the Laboratory tanks and those 
