1 64 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER CHAP. 



To establish one in this country had long been an 

 object with Professor Huxley and other biologists. 

 Professor Edwin Ray Lankester, who had acted 

 as Honorary Secretary of the Marine Biological 

 Association of which Huxley was President, had 

 displayed the greatest energy in recommending the 

 project to public notice, as well as in commending 

 it to scientific men. 



When we consider that before it was in working 

 order Parliament was asked to stop certain modes 

 of fishing alleged to destroy spawn by dragging 

 nets on the bottom, and that the staff of the Marine 

 Biological Laboratory has since proved that the 

 spawn of every food fish but the herring floats on 

 the top of the sea, "the difficulty of approaching 

 practical men " and asking for support may seem 

 rather strange; but the difficulty was found in 1888. 

 On the other hand, the leaders of science worked 

 hard ; the Fishmongers Company gave ^2000 and 

 acted as hosts at the opening at Plymouth ; Govern- 

 ment guaranteed ^500 for five years ; and the 

 Institution, though with a small income, started 

 fairly. If it now needed further justification, it 

 might be found in the fact that the Government 

 have just established another on the east coast, 

 dealing primarily with the food fishes of the North 

 Sea. Huxley was too unwell to preside, and in 

 his absence Flower took his place, and as Vice- 

 President of the Marine Biological Association 

 delivered the opening address. After pointing out 



