V THE INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES EXHIBITION 215 



fisheries are suffering, or are in a precarious state — 

 others are actually destroyed. It is also admitted 

 that our only chance of bettering this state of things 

 is an increase of scientific or accurate knowledge. 



If this is the case, there will be one grand scientific 

 result of the International Fisheries Exhibition, and 

 that will be an increased attention to, and adequate 

 provision for, the carrying on of zoological studies in 

 relation to fishery-animals. 



I can picture to myself the shape which this 

 scientific result might take, and I should be very glad 

 were it to commend itself to the many influential men 

 connected with fisheries who have organised this 

 Exhibition, and wdll have the direction of its final 

 outcome. 



If it is demanded that more accurate knowledo-e 

 of fishery-animals shall be provided for the public use, 

 then arrangements must be made to enable skilled 

 zoologists to carry on the investigations required. 

 To make such investigations, continuous residence for 

 weeks or months at a time, by the sea-shore, is neces- 

 sary. In France, Holland, Italy and the United 

 States, sea-side laboratories have been constructed, 

 which are provided with working-tables, glass appar- 

 atus, aquariums, etc., and a staff of attendants and 

 fishermen — to which naturalists can resort who desire 

 to carry on investigations upon the life -history of 

 marine organisms. Very valuable researches have 

 been made through the agency of these institutions, 

 and there can be no question as to the facilities which 

 they afford, and the inducement which their existence 



