51 



amination. Certaiu observations can be made and certain 

 particulars noted by such assistants carrying on statistical 

 work at the ports, but it is not suggested that they need 

 be laboratory biologists. Then, secondly, the samples 

 selected along with the statistical and any other informa- 

 tion should be sent for more detailed examination to the 

 nearest marine laboratory, there to be dealt with by the 

 Director and his scientific assistants. 



(3) Laboratories. — The Ichthyological Committee 

 point out that " the fishery interests of the East coast, the 

 South coast and the West coast of England, respectively, 

 are, to some extent, distinct," and they propose that these 

 three coasts should be treated independently, each having 

 its own marine laboratory, staff of workers, surveying 

 vessel and representatives on the Central authority. It 

 is recommended that, if possible, arrangements be made 

 so that (1) the Marine Biological Association Laboratory 

 at Plymouth be officially recognised as the head-quarters 

 for scientific fisheries work on the South coast, say from 

 the estuary of the Thames to the Bristol Channel ; (2) 

 that the Liverpool Marine Biological and Fishery Labora- 

 tories be similarly the centre for work on the West coast ; 

 and (o) that if no sufficiently large and well-equipped 

 marine laboratory be already in existence on the East 

 coast, a new institution be erected at Grimsby, possibly in 

 connection with a fisheries museum, of which the 

 Buckland collection might form the nucleus. This new 

 East coast laboratory might possibly be more directly 

 under the control of the Fisheries Department of the 

 Board of Trade, and would furnish that Department with 

 the laboratories, experimental tanks and scientific assis- 

 tants, without which the oflicials cannot be expected to 

 carry on original investigations. 



The Ichthyological Committee, in making this recom- 



