CHAPTER IV 

 1883 



THE pressure of official work, which had been constantly 

 growing since 1880, reached its highest point in 1883. Only 

 one scientific memoir * was published by him this year, 

 and then no more for the next four years. The intervals 

 of lecturing and examining were chiefly filled by fishery 

 business, from which, according to his usual custom when 

 immersed in any investigation, he chose the subject, " Oys- 

 ters and the Oyster Question," both for his Friday evening 

 discourse at the Royal Institution on May n, and for his 

 course to Working Men between Jan. 8 and Feb. 12. 



There are the usual notes of all seasons at all parts of 

 England. A deserted hotel at Cromer in January was un- 

 inviting. 



My windows look out on a wintry sea, and it is bitter cold. 

 Notwithstanding, a large number of the aquatic gentlemen to 

 whom I shall have the pleasure of listening, by and by, are 

 loafing against the railings opposite, as only fishermen can loaf. 



In April he had been ill, and his wife begged him to put 

 off some business which had to be done at York. But 

 unless absolutely ordered to bed by his doctor, nothing 

 would induce him to put personal convenience before pub- 

 lic duty. However, he took his son to look after him. 



I am none the worse for my journey (he writes from York), 

 rather the better; so Clark is justified, and I should have failed 



* Contributions to Morphology, Ichthyopsida, No. 2. On the Ovi- 

 ducts of Osmerus ; with remarks on the relations of the Teleostean 

 with the Ganoid Fishes (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1883, pp. 132-139). 



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