THE SEA FISHERIES OF IRELAND. 385 



laboratory, with four tables for workers, and a large central table, ledged 

 and covered with sheet lead, for aquaria. Overhead light is obtained from 

 a skylight, which occupies the whole of the main hatch, while each worker's 

 table is lighted by a window cut in the ship's side. 



Sea water for the aquaria is led by a pipe, fitted with a series of cocks, 

 from a reservoir on deck, which is filled by means of a semi-rotary hand 

 pump, the waste water draining by a pipe into the bilge. The wall space 

 of the laboratory is occupied by bookcases, cupboards, and shelves for jars, 

 bottles, etc. 



The other division of the hold is fitted as a state-room for the scientific 

 staff. A deck-house, erected aft of the pumps, serves as a dining-room, 

 and is also found convenient for the recording of the routine meteorolo- 

 gical observations. 



The cuddy, which, as is usual on ships of similar size, is of rather limited 

 dimensions, is used as a store-room, while the captain's cabin has been 

 converted into a photographic dark room. 



The crew occupy the forecastle, which has not been altered in any way. 



While the laboratory serves as headquarters, fishing operations are 

 carried on by a number of boats. The largest of these is the Monica, a 



The Department's Nobby, " Monica." 



nobby-rigged mackerel boat, thiity-six feet on the keel. She carries a 

 train of forty nets, and, in addition to the usual accommodation for the 

 fishing crew, has a small state-room, with two bunks and cupboards and 

 lockers for the scientific instruments. She carries a small punt. 



The Marion, a sloop-rigged, half-decked boat of twenty-two feet l.o.a., 

 the Conger and Mule, open boats, with standing lug-sails, and a small name- 

 less dinghey, complete the flotilla. 



The Laboratory has hitherto been moored at Ballynakill in the winter, 

 and Inisbofin in the summer, being towed from one place to the other by 

 the steamers of the Congested Districts Board. 



These sites were selected on account of their proximity to Cleggan, which 

 is the headquarters of one of the principal mackerel fisheries of the country. 



2C 



