XXXVI 



Introduction. 



England. We are indebted to Norwich, the capital of the county distinguished 

 for its fishing enterprise from time] immemorial, for first localising it within 

 these islands. The germ of the idea was due to the Yare Preservation and 

 Angling Society, and more specifically to one of its most distinguished 

 members, Mr. Howard Taylor. At the Annual Meeting of this Association in 

 1879, Mr. Taylor suggested the institution of a Fish Museum at Norwich ; 

 while, at the same time, an Act was passed for the protection and preservation 

 of fish in relation to the county through the instrumentality of the same 

 Society. From the legislation arising out of this movement sprang the 

 important Society for the Acclimatization of Fish; and when the project 

 of a museum was found difficult of execution, their Secretary, Mr. Oldham 

 Chambers, conceived the happy notion of holding a Fisheries Exhibition 

 in the county capital a proposition warmly accepted and endorsed by their 

 President, Mr. Birkbeck, the Member for the Northern Division of the county. 

 A small and energetic Executive soon threw themselves into the work, and 

 just as the project of a Museum had been superseded by that of an Exhibition, 

 so now the local character of the institution gradually widened into a 

 national undertaking. Several public bodies quickly recognised the value of 

 the design, and assistance flowed in from many quarters. A handsome donation 

 was voted for the purpose by the Corporation of London, and that ancient 

 City guild, the Fishmongers' Company, then as now lent their powerful 

 influence. 



Government recognition was also obtained, chiefly through the agency of 

 Mr. Birkbeck, and an official sanction was procured for holding the Exhibition 

 at Norwich, and for granting medals and diplomas of merit. From the 

 moment of its inception, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh took 

 a lively interest in furthering the project, and its happy execution was in no 

 small degree owing to the assistance afforded by their Koyal Highnesses. 



The success attained at Norwich at once put in motion the enterprise of our 

 Northern neighbours. At the instance of the Highland and Agricultural 

 Society, Mr- Menzies paid a visit to the Norwich Exhibition, and his report 

 was so favourable that the Scottish Society resolved upon following suit in 

 the succeeding year. Amongst the objects especially noticed at Edinburgh 

 was the Swedish collection of fish and fish-derived products, such as isinglass 

 and gelatine. One young lady in particular exhibited a most ingenious and 

 beautiful set of brooches and ornaments made entirely of fish-scales. Much 

 interest also was felt in the exhibits contributed by Professor Nordenskjold, 

 of the fishing-tackle used by the tribes frequenting the borders of the Arctic 

 Ocean, and by the .Esquimaux of the Port of Cloimu. Some valuable con- 

 tributions to our knowledge upon points connected with these matters were 

 obtained in the essays presented by various experienced writers, notably in 

 that contributed by Mr. George Sim upon the " Natural History of the 

 Herring," in an account of the " Harbour Accommodation of Scotland," given 

 by Mr. Young, Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, and in a disquisition upon the 

 different methods of Oyster Culture. 



Meanwhile a movement was set on foot again under the auspices of 

 Mr. Birkbeck, for repeating, upon a grander scale in London, the experiment 



