XXvi DIRECTOR'S REPORT.—NO. III. 
beautiful counties of Devon and Cornwall are on either hand, 
Dartmoor is behind our back, and we look out upon the English 
Channel with its mingled northern and southern forms of life. 
There are, I am sure, enthusiastic naturalists abroad who would like 
to spend their summer holidays at the work which can so comfortably 
be done at this Laboratory. They would find, if they will but try the 
experiment, that an English summer has charms equal to those of 
an Italian winter and spring, and what is not unimportant to most 
scientific men, that the advantages of cheap lodging and living are 
not confined to the Continent. 
Mr. Garstang, who has for some years occupied different posts at 
the Laboratory, has kindly consented to give a summary of his notes 
on the seasonal variations of the local fauna, and the data in this 
number of the Journal will to a certain extent be an indication of 
what may be expected to occur during the summer. 
Mr. Garstang left the service of the Association on May 30th. 
He has since paid a visit to the Laboratory, and collected fresh 
material, and it is to be hoped that he will often be tempted to 
revisit the spots he has studied so closely and knows so well. 
The specimen trade has since his departure been in my hands. 
I am glad to report that it is increasing rapidly ; to such an extent, 
in fact, that it is interfering with a higher phase of my duties, the 
investigations which have been slowly growing under my hands. 
The study of the influence of external physical conditions on the 
character and distribution of pelagic life (Plankton) is full of 
charms on account of its constant variety, and it is this also which 
makes it a particularly time-devouring study. I have found the 
complicated conditions of the currents in Plymouth Sound make the 
solution of the causes of the movements of Plankton practically 
hopeless as regards this locality. But comparative observations on 
the character and quantity of Plankton at different distances from 
the land, until we reach the Channel current, have given some 
striking results. There is at certain times a great difference in the 
relative quantity, and correlated with this a proportional difference 
in the quantity, of mackerel in the Sound and outside it. This 
subject will, I feel sure, yield most interesting results before long. 
The boats at our disposal are by no means capable of doing all 
that could be done to support the functional activity of the Labo- 
ratory. The small steam-tug ‘ Lorna,” which we hire, can only 
leave the Sound on calm days. Our small sailing boat, the “ Auton 
Dohon,” has done excellent service, but is not capable of covering 
long distances within a reasonable time. I have been able to 
increase her efficiency materially by the addition of a centre-board 
to haul up in shallow water or when running before the wind, and 
