of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 9 
history and habits of fishes, such as might be of interest and use 
to them, and to see the processes of fish-hatching. 
The fishermen were so much interested in the instruction they 
received that, in some instances, on returning home, they held 
public meetings to discuss and communicate what they had 
learned; and as it appeared to the Board desirable to encourage 
this inclination among the fishing population for knowledge of the 
kind, they invited other seaboard County Councils to send fishermen 
to the demonstrations, if they felt so disposed, no expense being 
incurred except for the travelling and maintenance of the men. 
The response has been gratifying, fishermen from the counties of 
Argyll, Bute, Caithness, and Elgin having attended the last course 
of instruction. 
The subjects taught include the life-history of such fishes as the 
herring, cod, haddock, and plaice, as well as of the mussel and 
edible crustacea, the instruction being given in as simple a manner 
as possible. The food, reproduction, growth, &c., of fishes are 
explained and illustrated by specimens and experiment, and the 
men are shown the process of fertilisation and the development of 
a fish within the egg. Demonstrations are also given on various 
methods of “ barking” nets and lines, a subject which, touching as 
it does on their daily occupation, is always interesting, and the 
opportunity is taken to show them some of the fish-curing and ice- 
making establishments in Aberdeen, as well as the fish-market. 
With reference to the “ barking” of nets, it may be stated that 
experiments are being tried as to the relative value of certain 
methods for the preservation of herring-nets,and that the Congested 
Districts Board have courteously agreed to defray the cost, and to 
have the trial of the nets made on board the experimental motor- 
fishing boat Pioneer. 
It may be worth stating that on the whole question of the 
technical education of fishermen and those engaged in the fishing 
industry most other countries in Europe are in advance of our- 
selves. In France and Germany there are a number of schools 
devoted to this work, directly or indirectly under the patronage of 
the State; there are several in Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, 
and Sweden. Most of them are concerned chiefly with that part 
of a fisherman’s knowledge which relates to navigation, fishing- 
grounds, and actual fishing, but many offer elaborate facilities for 
instruction of a more purely scientific kind, and are provided with 
laboratories, museums, libraries, and a teaching staff; some have 
ships as floating schools for practical work. By far the most 
important and the best-equipped institution of the kind is the 
Imperial Fisheries Institute at Tokio, Japan, which was recently 
rebuilt by the Japanese Government at a cost of £17,000. The 
buildings and grounds occupy 84 acres, including a dock for the 
experimental vessels; there are sixteen lecture rooms, as well as 
laboratories, inuseum, and libraries ; the staff includes ten professors 
and many assistants; and the course, which is divided into three 
sections—fishing, fisheries technology, and pisciculture—extends 
over three years. The aim is to educate the young Japanese 
connected with the fishing industry in the most thorough and 
scientific manner ; but much work is also done in training teachers 
