330 president's address^ — section d. 



For it was the science of metallurgy that raised mankind from 

 the Stone Age. It was the science of the commei*cial and industrial 

 ai'ts that placed Europe in the lead of the world. The successful 

 application of science to agriculture has been demonstrated in the 

 Queensland sugar-mills, butter-factories, and frozen-meat trade. Last 

 among industries to feel the fructifying touch of science are the 

 fisheries. 



In Ceylon, for twelve ba'iTen years the pearl fisheries lay idle. 

 Then the aid of skilled investigators was sought, and the industry 

 placed on a somid footing. For the last five years an annual haiTest 

 worth £100,000 has been reaped. 



But for the last decade in Queensland there has been a steady 

 -decrease year by year. Thus : — 



and, alas, the tide has not yet turned. 



Not only in Ceylon, but also in Japan and the United States of 

 America, has the Government granted the means for the study of 

 marine life. And these efforts have everj^where proved remunerative. 



A well-organised and liberally-endowed establishment is required. 

 From time to time in the past, Queensland has met this call by 

 appointing a single officer, without aid or equipment. Some of the 

 problems of our fisheries are as difficult and intricate as any which 

 confront science. Time and the combined efforts of skilled zoologists 

 are required for their solution. 



Opinions delivered by the judge from the bench or the priest 

 from the pulpit carry a weight which does not attach to an unofficial 

 utterance. And so, speaking from this Presidential Chair, I express 

 the earnest hope that the Queensland Government will soon give effect 

 to the chief recommendation of the Eoyal Commission of 1908, and 

 -establish a biolog-ical station in Torres Strait. ' 



2.— THE EVOLUTION OF THE QUEENSLAND COAST. 

 The uniformity of the Indo-Pacific marine fauna is a theme of 

 text-books. From the Red Sea to the Hawaiian Islands is an enormous 

 distance, yet the marine fauna of this belt maintains a constant aspect 

 and numerous species range throughout. This Indo-Pacific Province is 

 subdivided into regions, among which the Solanderian, as I have 

 termed that under consideration, is as distinct as any. On the south 

 the Queensland fauna is limited by the cooler waters of New South 

 Wales, and on the north the volume of fresh water issuing from the 

 Fly and neighbouring rivers is an impediment to emigration and immi- 

 gration. 



