1898] NEWS 307 
tion has been published relative to the fishing industry and fishing centres of the 
Colony. The Colonial Government is now in a position to appreciate the value 
of this important industry and the possibilities of its development, and to legis- 
late on matter which may arise in regard to it. In order to satisfactory investi- 
gate the fishing grounds one of the most modern types of steam vessels was 
procured, together with a skilled crew, and they set to work with long lines, 
nets, and trawl. So far it is found that there is within easy reach of Cape Town 
an excellent trawling ground, rivalling the North Sea in productiveness, and 
among other excellent fish, soles occur there abundantly, some of them turning 
the scale at 8 and 9 lbs, from near St Helena Bay. The future work of the 
“Pieter Faure” as the vessel is called will be the investigation of the Agulhas 
Bank from Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth, Knysna, Port Alfred and East 
London. The scientific aspect of the work will be kept in sight (see Natural 
Science, October, p. 228) but for the present more attention must be given to the 
industry. Considerable opposition has been made to the operations of the steam 
trawler, but it has been pointed out that Parliament was only experimenting at 
present, that proper investigation would be made into the alleged disturbance of 
spawn, and the fishing limits for ordinary fishermen, but that the store of food 
available round the coast would certainly be exploited in a country clamouring 
for cheap food, and that the interests of a large country would outweigh the 
interests of a few individual fishermen. The report contains some valuable 
charts, descriptions of a new Arnoglossus by Mr Boulenger, and a new genus of 
gasteropoda Neptuneopsis gilchristt by Mr G. B. Sowerby, besides much other 
statistical information. 
THE general conference of the International Geodetic Association met at 
Stuttgart on October 3. Among other matters a programme for a systematic 
study of variations of latitude, involving the occupation of stations for a term of 
years, was arranged. Two stations will be in the United States, one in Italy, 
and one in Japan. 
WE learn from the American Geologist that the International Mining Congress 
will meet again in 1899 at Milwaukee. The meeting at Salt Lake City in July 
had an attendance of about 200. One of the chief objects of the Congress is to 
recommend amendments to the mining laws of the United States. 
THE Second International Congress of Marine Fisheries was held at Dieppe 
on September 2, under the presidency of Mr Perrier. There were four sections : 
(1) For scientific research under Mathias Duval ; (2) Apparatus, preparation and 
transport under Delamare-Debouteville ; technical education under J. E. Seigneur ; 
(4) Fishery rules under Mr Roche. Numerous communications were made to 
the Congress. 
Tue Tenth Congress of Russian naturalists and physicians was held at Kiev 
on September 3, under the presidency of Mr Bunge. Over 1500 members were 
present. 
Tue Fifth International Congress of Physiologists will be held at the Uni- 
versity of Turin towards the end of September 1901. 
Tue Library of the Millport Marine Biological Station has received a nearly 
complete set of the “Challenger” publications. 
Count Cart LAnpsBeEr@, the Bavarian orientalist, will be the leader of the 
expedition projected by the Vienna Academy of Sciences, to Arabia. The Swedish 
steamer ‘Gottfried’ took the party from Trieste towards the end of October. 
Prof. Simony goes as botanist, Dr Kossmat as geologist. The chief objects of 
the expedition are Sabaean inscriptions, pre-Arabic archaeology, and the Mahra 
language. Dr Layn will go as physician. 
