6 



valuable for future reference. At the conclusion of each 

 class the men expressed their indebtedness to the Tech- 

 nical Instruction Committee and to the Sea-Fisheries 

 Committee for this arrangement by which they are 

 enabled to come to Piel and receive practical instruction 

 concerning the life and habits of the more important 

 marine animals. 



From the number of enquiries we have had for informa- 

 tion as to the methods adopted in cariying on these classes, 

 it is evident that the importance of practical instruction 

 to iishermen on the nature, life histories and habits of the 

 ecoaioniic marine animals is being more appreciated each 

 year. Other Fisheries Authorities are now taking up the 

 work. The Eastern Sea-Fisheries Committee asked per- 

 mission for some of their men to attend at Piel along with 

 the Lancashire fishermen ; and amongst the enquiries 

 for particulars as to the methods of organisation was one 

 on behalf of the Japanese Minister of Fisheries. AVe give 

 at the end of this Report a more detailed statement which 

 has been recently drawn up as to the Technical Fisheries 

 Instruction provided under the auspices of our Committee. 



Experiments with "Drifters." 



It will be remembered that in. several former reports (see 

 especially those for 1895 and 1898) we dealt with the 

 surface currents of our sea which might carry tioating fish 

 eggs and larvfe, as determined by the distribution of 

 numbered " drift " bottles set free at times and localities 

 duly noted, and containing post cards to be filled in and 

 returned by the finder. As it had become desirable to 

 ascertain where fish eggs produced in the deep water otf 

 Carnarvon and Cardigan Bays, the AVelsh portion of our 

 extended district, would be carried to, I arranged to set 

 free a new series of drift bottles during my passage down 



