1884.] Treasurer s Address. 443 



This most valuable fund, the annual income of which is now about 

 400L, has, during the past year, rendered important aid to various 

 scientific objects. From it considerable grants have been made 

 towards obtaining specimens of Hatteria and Apteryx ; for expenses 

 incurred on account of the voyage and investigations of the surveying 

 ship " Triton ; " for collection of materials relating to the Krakatoa 

 eruption ; towards the borings in the Delta of Egypt ; and, lastly, in 

 aid of the Marine Biological Association. 



The close connexion of the future of our fisheries with the advance- 

 ment of certain branches of zoological science was commented upon 

 by our President in his last anniversary address, and I have now to 

 record the foundation of two establishments devoted to marine 

 research. The first of these is the station established at Granton, 

 near Edinburgh, mainly through the energetic labours of Mr. John 

 Murray of the " Challenger " expedition. It consists of a floating 

 laboratory where physical and biological investigations are carried on, 

 and it is provided with a steam yacht for taking observations at sea 

 and procuring specimens for examination. Chemical and other 

 laboratories are now being erected on the shore, close to the enclosed 

 piece of water where the floating laboratory is moored. Two 

 naturalists, a chemist and a botanist, are permanently attached to 

 the station, and have an engineer, a fisherman, and three attendants 

 to assist them in conducting regular systematic observations. 2,500 

 have been spent on the equipment of the station, and it has at present 

 an income of 400Z. a-year, independent of the grants which some of 

 the permanent staff have received from the Government Grant Com- 

 mittee to aid them in their researches. It is well that it should be 

 known that any scientific observer is at liberty to make use of the 

 station free of charge ; indeed, during the past year five gentlemen 

 and one lady have availed themselves of this privilege during short 

 periods of time. 



But the movement in favour of such stations has not been confined 

 to Scotland, for I have also to chronicle the foundation of the Marine 

 Biological Association, which originated in a meeting held in these 

 rooms on March 31st last, our President being in the chair, and many 

 of our principal naturalists taking part in the proceedings. The 

 formation of such an Association has long been hoped for by many 

 interested in obtaining a correct knowledge of the life and conditions 

 of our sea- coast, who are now principally indebted to Professor Bay 

 Lankester for the realisation of their hopes. The operations of the 

 Association will in no way clash with those of the station at Granton, 

 but both institutions will work towards a common end. One effect, 

 indeed, of the new Association will probably be to render all the more 

 fruitful the labours on the more northern shores by instituting similar 

 researches at other parts of the coast of our island. 



VOL. XXXVII. 2 G 



