viii PREFACI-: 



University and College teachers with large supplies of marine 

 organisms for teaching purposes and special investigations. Its 

 aims arc national in their importance and not merely local ; it 

 requires and invites the co-operation of all those who arc 

 interested in the study of marine life, or in the perilous labours 

 of the sea fisherman. 



Before concluding this preface I must express the thanks 

 of the Council of the Marine Biological Association to the 

 Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the 

 Hunterian Curator, Professor Stewart, F.R.S., for kindl}' allow- 

 ing Mr. Cunningham to make use of a room in their Museum 

 during the past )'car whilst engaged in preparing this book 

 for the press, and in pursuing his researches on the structure of 

 the ovary of marine food-fishes. 



E. Ray Lankestkr. 



October, 1896. 



