For the Year 1885-86. 



The past year presents a few features calling for remark in the 

 work of the Association. 



The Council are glad to congratulate Members on the fact that 

 in place of the heavy deficits of the last two years, amounting last 

 June to over ^^26, the Association has this year an estimated 

 balance in hand of over ^t,. This is not owing to increased 

 membership, the number of Members being nearly the same as 

 last year, viz. — 1283 as against 1290. It is due, partly, to greater 

 economy in the cost of publishing No. X., which has necessarily 

 had to be curtailed in bulk, while fewer copies have been printed 

 than usual ; partly, to the decreased expenditure incurred at last 

 year's Annual Meeting ; and partly, the Council are glad to 

 observe, to the increased demand for the Transactions, especially 

 of the earlier numbers, during the past year. 



The Council trust that the circular issued by their desire to 

 Local Secretaries, impressing on them the importance of endeav- 

 ouring to extend the sale of Transactions in their respective 

 districts, has not been altogether without avail. 



Still, they feel that Members as yet do not generally realize the 

 value of the Publication, as they think its merits deserve. As an 

 example : — Six Societies out of the ten, with a total membership 

 of 590, take altogether only one hundred copies ; and, but for the 

 commendable action of the Penrith Society, which, like that of 

 Carlisle, has resolved on presenting its Members with copies (an 

 example which every Society, whose funds permit, might, the Council 

 think, with advantage follow), the sale of No. X. would have fallen 

 short of that of even last year. 



The Council have to report with much regret the secession of 

 ythe Whitehaven Scientific Association during the year. This 

 would appear to be mainly owing to the objection of that Society 

 to the Rule which requires papers inserted in the Transactions to 

 be both original and local in character. The Council have always 

 held that the distinctive value of an annual publication like the 

 Transactions, which records for future reference the work of the 

 Societies, is largely due to their adherence to this Rule, and they 

 see no reason for materially altering that view, though they are 



