34 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
has it in contemplation to have a marine station somewhere on the 
West of Scotland. Arran had been strongly recommended, but 
when they saw the extent of rich dredging ground, and variety 
and extent of shore, all within so short a distance of the central 
point, Millport, besides an easy run to all the lochs of the Firth, 
they were all in one mind that Millport was greatly preferable to 
Arran or any other place that had been thought of. Fortunately 
all round Cumbrae the dredging was exceedingly successful. Where 
they think would be most suitable for the site of the station is on 
one of the Allans,” 
Asa preliminary step towards the establishment of a permanent 
station, a barge named the Ark, which had been fitted up as a 
floating laboratory, was brought from Granton to Millport, and 
drawn up on the rocks above high-water mark. The pleasure with 
which Mr. Robertson contemplated the fulfilment of what had 
long been a cherished desire may be gathered from his correspon- 
dence. Writing to Dr. J. R. Henderson, who was then about to 
leave for India, he states that—‘ To keep up old associations, Mrs. 
Robertson and I take a walk to the Ark every day. We have had 
some heavy weather for the last few days, with high tides, but the 
Ark is keeping her ground well, which is giving us hope that she 
will come safely through the winter.” In April of the following 
year he wrote to Dr. Murray as follows:—‘“I got the chain of 
the Ark tightened up a little. I am getting the rock on her west 
side cut away, which will be a great safety to her. I would be 
sorry to see any mishap overtaking the oldlady. We had a pretty 
sharp gale last night, but she is still all right.” 
As an addition to the sights of Millport the Ark proved a 
centre of attraction even to unscientific visitors. ‘‘ During the 
summer of 1889,” writes Mr. Stebbing, “‘an experiment was made 
to test the interest which the public would take in it. An intel- 
ligent attendant was paid to take charge of it, and empowered to 
admit visitors at a fixed charge. A discussion took place as to 
what the charge should be. One of the financial committee 
recommended that it should be sixpence, another thought that 
threepence would be enough, but Mr. Robertson carried the day 
for his own view that only a penny should be asked. Yet so 
much interest was shown in the boat and its contents that five to 
seven or eight shillings a day in pennies were received throughout 
