66 



scientific aud the industrial points of view. By such 

 work our knowledge of spawning grounds, " nurseries," 

 and the distribution of the fish in various stages will be 

 advanced, and, moreover, light may be thrown upon the 

 regular statistical observations. 



Additional experimental work, such as the use of the 

 large mid-water net, the pumping of water from diiJerent 

 depths for plankton estimation, the experimental marking 

 and liberation of fishes, and observations on the vitality 

 of young fishes caught by diii'erent methods, might be 

 undertaken on the days left free at the ends of the weeks. 



In addition to the captain and crew (say twelve in all) 

 necessary for working the vessel, and accustomed to the 

 use of the trawling and other fishing gear, at least one 

 and possibly two scientific assistants, the one a biologist 

 and the other a chemist or physicist, should always be 

 on board. 



It is obvious that in carrying out this scheme, in addi- 

 tion to the work at sea, a considerable amount of work must 

 be done on shore. Probably the most satisfactory and 

 economical method of doing this would be to make use of 

 the existing laboratories at Liverpool, Piel, Port Erin, 

 and, if Ireland joins the scheme, at Dublin, and to employ 

 the present stafi: with the additions that would be necessary. 



The headings of the work in the laboratories would be 

 as follows : — 



(1) Tabulation and analysis of the records filled up on 



the steamer, and those obtained from the 

 commercial fleet. 



(2) Examination, estimation, and determination of the 



plankton collected. 



(3) Examination of the fishes and invertebrates and 



other material retained as the result of the 

 trawlings. 



