PREFACE vii 



moment is entirely neglected though -practicable, are the two 

 requirements of those who desire to improve, and preserve by 

 intelligent action, our fishing industry. I believe that Mr. 

 Cunningham's book will place the reader in a position to 

 appreciate the .importance of these requirements. 



The purpose of the Association under the auspices of which 

 Mr. Cunningham has worked, was stated, on its foundation, in 

 the words of Professor Huxley, its first President, to be that of 

 " establishing and maintaining laboratories on the coast of the 

 United Kingdom, where accurate researches may be carried on 

 leading to the improvement of zoological and botanical science, 

 and to an increase of our knowledge as regards the food, life- 

 conditions, and habits of British food-fishes and molluscs." The 

 Association was founded in 1884 and the Plymouth laboratory 

 was opened in 1888, having cost in building and fittings about 

 1 2,000. The studies of the naturalists, who are officers of the 

 Association, have not been confined to the neighbourhood of 

 Plymouth, but have included some investigation of the North 

 Sea fisheries, in the course of which the marine laboratory at ' 

 Cleethorpes was lent to the Association by the Society to which 

 it belongs. Those who read Mr. Cunningham's account of our 

 marine food-fishes and feel an interest in the subject of which 

 he treats, and in the enterprise of the Marine Biological Associa- 

 tion, will be able to obtain all information as to the Association, 

 its laboratory, its publications, and the terms of membership by 

 applying to the Director of the Marine Biological Laboratory, 

 Citadel Hill, Plymouth. It would not perhaps be in good taste 

 to discourse at greater length in this preface concerning the 

 Association and its laboratory. I will, however, venture so far 

 as to state that in addition to promoting and publishing works 

 directly relating to sea fisheries, the Association has through its 

 laboratory and fishing boats at Plymouth furnished a large 

 number of naturalists who have occupied tables there, with the 

 means of prosecuting minute researches of great scientific value 

 on the marine fauna and flora. It is also the means of providing 



