June i6, 1892] 



NATURE 



155 



and at shallow depths where not emerged ; that, there- 

 fore, the oceanic depression was then large and deep 

 enough to hold the ocean. Further, this last fact indi- 

 cates, if the mean level of the continents was coincident 

 with the water's surface, that the oceanic depression had 

 already a depth of 12,000 feet, or that of the present 

 mean 'depth of the waters ; and that the lowering, 

 through later time, of the bed 1 500 feet on an average (or 

 2000 feet according to other estimates) would give the 

 continents their present mean height. And it is a fact of 

 deep geogenic significance, that nearly 1000 feet of this 

 mean height was received after the beginning of the 

 Tertiary. James D. Dana. 



OPENING OF THE LIVERPOOL MARINE 

 BIOLOGICAL S TA TION A T POR T ERIN. 



THE Liverpool Marine Biology Committee, which 

 commenced the investigation of the fauna and flora 

 of Liverpool Bay and the neighbouring seas seven years 

 ago, and has kept up a small biological station on Puffin 

 Island, Anglesey, for the last five years, passed on Satur- 

 day (June 4) into a new phase of its existence, and, it 

 may be hoped, a more extended sphere of labour, when 

 His Excellency Spencer Walpole, Lieutenant-Governor 

 of the Isle of Man, declared the new marine laboratory 

 at Port Erin to be open for work. The Puffin Island 

 establishment has been very useful to the Committee, and 

 well worth the small annual expenditure required for its 

 modest outfit. It has been used by a few students who 

 wished to gain a general knowledge of the common 

 marine animals and plants in a living state, and by a 

 limited number of specialists who went there to make 

 observations, or who had the material for their investi- 

 gations collected there and sent to them. But the Com- 

 mittee has felt for the last year, at least, that a station 

 which was more readily accessible from Liverpool, and 

 with hotel or lodging accommodation obtainable on the 

 spot, would enable their members to do more work, and 

 be of more use both to students and to investigators. 

 Also, it was evident that after five years' work on the 

 shores of the small island the greater number of the 

 plants and animals had been collected and examined, 

 and that a change to a new locality with a rich fauna and 

 a more extended line of coast would yield increased 

 material for faunistic work. On looking round the 

 Liverpool Marine Biology Committee's district, Port 

 Erin, at the southern end of the Isle of Man, at once 

 presented itself as the best available place. 



From its position, and the shape of the land, Port Erin 

 has within a distance of a couple of miles in three 

 directions — to Fleshwick Bay, to the Calf, and to Port 

 'St. Mary — a long and varied coast-line, with a number 

 of small bays, furnishing good collecting-ground and 

 shallow-water dredging. Two of these bays, Port Erin 

 and Port St. Mary, have harbours with sailing-boats, and 

 face in nearly opposite directions, so that in most winds 

 one or other is sheltered and has a quiet sea. The rich 

 fauna around the Calf and off Spanish Head is within 

 easy reach : at a distance of three to four miles from the 

 laboratory are depths of 20 to 30 fathoms, and at fourteen 

 miles 60 to 70 fathoms. Although it is a considerable 

 distance from Liverpool, still it is reached by a regular 

 service of swift steamers and convenient trains, so that 

 there is no uncertainty or delay in the journey. 



The plan of Port Erin shows the position and 

 surroundings of the Biological Station. It is on the 

 beach at one corner of the bay, near where the sand and 

 rocks join, and at the foot of the cliff upon which the 

 Bellevue Hotel stands. It is connected with the road 

 by means of a winding gravel path and steps, and is 

 about a third of a mile from the railway station. It is 

 just at the bottom of the hotel grounds, and arrangements 



NO. 1 181, VOL. 46] 



have been made with the proprietor by which those 

 working at the Biological Station can live comfortably 

 and economically at the hotel. The sea comes to within 

 a few yards of the windows, and the bay immediately in 

 front is sheltered pure sea-water with a varied bottom, 

 suitable for small boat dredging and tow-netting; while 

 the rocky coast, extending out towards Bradda Head, 

 has many creeks and good shore pools. 



The station is a substantially built, three-roomed house, 

 measuring a little over 30 feet by 20 feet, and standing on 

 a solid stone and concrete platform, which raises it 

 about 10 feet above high tide. It has windows looking 

 out in three directions, north, south, and west. The 

 front door leads into a passage, from which open to 

 right and left two small rooms, which can be used as 

 the Director's room and the Secretary's office, and 

 will also be available for the use of members of the 

 Committee, or any special students who require a 

 separate room for their work. Opposite the entrance is 

 the door into the main laboratory, which measures about 

 22 feet by 20 feet, and has windows on both sides. In front 

 of the windows run strong fixed work-tables, which will 

 accommodate five students with ease. At the ends of the 

 room are fire-place, sink, tables, bookcase, and abundance 



Plan of the Liverpool Marine Biological Laboratoiy at Port Erin, i, Main 

 laboratory (22 X 2o\ with work places for five students ; 2, strong 

 table for aquaria; 3 to 9, tables; 10, small laboratory for Director or 

 members of Committee ; ir, passage ; 12, small laboratory or Secretary's 

 office ; 13, small yard. 



of shelving, while along the centre runs a strong table for 

 small aquaria and vessels containing animals. A door in 

 one corner opens into a useful small yard between the 

 house and the cliff, in which the concrete fresh water 

 cistern is placed, and where dredges and other implements 

 can be stored. 



The Liverpool Salvage Association had kindly pro- 

 mised to lend their useful steamer, the Hycena, to the 

 Committee for four or five days at the time of opening ; 

 but as she was called off on duty at the last moment, they 

 sent the steamer Mallard instead, on Friday afternoon, 

 across to Port Erin, where she remained until Monday. 

 Dredging trips in the neighbourhood took place on three 

 of the days, and on Saturday evening tow-netting with sub- 

 marine electric lights was carried on after dark in the bay. 



At one o'clock on Saturday the Lieutenant-Governor, 

 the Bishop, the Manx Attorney-General, and a number of 

 members of the House of Keys, and others, arrived at Port 

 Erin, where they were met by Prof. Herdman, Mr. 1. C. 

 Thompson, Mr. A. O. Walker, Mr, J. Vicars, Sir James 

 Poole, and others of the L.M.B.C, along with some 

 biologists from elsewhere, the Liverpool party number- 

 ing over thirty. The Governor was conveyed to the 

 front of the Biological Station, where, after being pre- 

 sented by Prof. Herdman with the reports upon tb^ 



