NA TURE 



[June 27, 1901 



The last section of the biological programme deals with the 

 importance of elaborating fishery statistics so as to yield data 

 for constructing maps of the fishing grounds, and for determining 

 the influence of physical conditions on fish. 



With regard to the apparatus to be used in these observations, 

 Prof. Nansen, Dr. Hjort and Mr. (larstang gave a demon- 

 stration on board the hhjorii in Christiania fjord of the insulating 

 water-bottle as used for exact measurements of temperature, and 

 of various forms of closing tow-nets. 



C. OrganisalioH of the International Council, Central Bureatt 

 and International Laboratory. — The organisation which is to 

 put the elaborate system of observations recommended by the 

 Conference into operation and to record and work out the 

 result is obviously the most important part of the whole scheme, 

 as upon its successful working depends the whole of the success 

 of the attempt at concerted action. The International Council 

 is thus described : — 



" The permanent International Council shall consist of com- 

 missioners elected by the Governments interested. Each Govern- 

 ment should appoint two commissioners who may be represented 

 at meetings by substitutes, and may be accompanied by e.xperts 

 who, however, shall not be competent to vote. 



"The council elects its president and vice-president and 

 appoints all officials of the Central Bureau. Should the general 

 Secretary represent hydrographic science, one of his principal 

 assistants should be a biologist, and vice versa. The other 

 assistant shall preferably be experienced in statistical work. . . . 



" It will be for the Governments concerned to decide among 

 themselves the amount of the contributions to the Central 

 Organisation. The expenses of the Central Organisation are 

 approximately estimated at 4S00/. yearly. . . . 



" The purpose of the Central Bureau will be : 



"To give uniform directions for the hydrographic and biological 

 researches in accordance with the resolutions drawn up in the 

 programme of the present Conference, or in accordance with 

 such modifications as may be introduced later with the consent 

 of the States represented. 



" To undertake such particular work as may be entrusted to it 

 by the participating Governments. 



' ' To publish periodical bulletins which shall contain the actual 

 data obtained in the cruises of all the participating Slates at the 

 earliest possible date, and also such other papers as may prove 

 useful in coordinating ihe international work. . . . 



" The site of the Central Bureau, to be decided by the Govern- 

 ments concerned, shall at the same time be the residence of the 

 general secretary. 



" The purpose of the International Laboratory shall be : — 



"To control apparatus and to ensure uniformity of methods. 

 The various apparatus and instruments now used for oceanic 

 research should be examined in order to settle which are the 

 most trustworthy. Experiments may also be made to improve 

 the apparatus and instruments or to construct new and better 

 ones. 



"The water-samples sent by the workers of the participating 

 States are to be .analysed and examined at the Central Labora- 

 tory, from which also samples of standard water should be 

 provided. . . . 



" The International Laboratory is subordinate to the Central 

 Council, to which its accounts shall be rendered. Its operations 

 shall be reported to the Central Bureau. 



"The site of the Central Laboratory shall be decided by the 

 Governments concerned, and should be conveniently situated 

 for oceanic researches." 



The relations of the Central Bureau and the International 

 Laboratory will probably be somewhat difficult to define, and 

 the success of the two practically independent institutions will 

 depend on the strength and tact of the International Council, 

 the selection of the members of which will devolve upon the 

 Governments associating themselves with the work. 



Resolutions. — The general resolutions adopted by the Confer- 

 ence included an expression of the desirability of the provision 

 of at least one steamer specially adapted for marine research by 

 each of the participating States. This is so self-evident as hardly 

 to require statement. Norway already possesses such a vessel in 

 the Michael Sars, which has already done excellent work under 

 Dr. Hjort ; Russia has also equipped a vessel for fishery obser- 

 vations, and Germany has sanctioned a very carefully-planned 

 ship, involving some very important innovations, which is now, 

 we believe, almost ready to be launched. To carry out the 

 British share of the work properly two vessels will be required, 



NO. 1652, VOL. 64] 



and for so promising a field of practical application of science 

 it seems reasonable to hope that they will be provided. 



The opinion is formally expressed that the Central Bureau 

 should commence operations as soon as possible, and not later 

 than the beginning of next year, while the first set of inter, 

 national cruises should take place not later than May 1902. To 

 make this possible it is recommended that the International 

 Council should meet in Copenhagen as soon as the participating 

 Governments decide to accept the programme of the Confer- 

 ence. 



A resolution expresses sympathy with the efforts of Govern- 

 ments which are endeavouring in the face of difficulties from 

 foreign trawlers to preserve an area, such, t-.^'. , as the Moray 

 firth, from fishing operations, for experimental purposes. Another 

 thanks Dr. Knudsen for his recently published hydrographical 

 tables, in which he gives a new determination of the physical 

 constants of sea-water. The remaining resolutions suggest 

 methods for graphically representing the dynamics of oceanic 

 movements, approve of the inclusion of observations on fresh- 

 water lakes simultaneous with, and similar to, those on the sea, 

 and point out the importance for deep-sea fisheries and for 

 weather forecasts of bringing the Faeroes and Iceland into the 

 telegraphic system of Europe. 



It remains now for the Governments of the northern marine 

 nations of Europe to give effect to this carefully planned scheme. 



H. R. M. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



O.XFORD. — The following is the text of the speech delivered 

 by Prof. Love in presenting Dr. P. L. Sclater for the degree of 

 D.Sc. honoris causa, on June 20: — 



Adest Philippus Lutley Sclater, Sodalis Societatis Regalis, 

 Magister Artium in Academia nostra. Philosophic Doctor in 

 Bonnensi, CoUegii Corporis Christi Socius honoris causa creatus. 

 Oui vir, ut prmios eius annos et incunabula laudis breviter prae- 

 stringam, si quis alius, vere Wiccamicus vocandus est, cum non 

 solum ipse et postea duo elus filii sed olim pater atque avus in 

 illustrissima Schola Beala; Mariai de Winton instituti sint. Ita 

 per quattuor hominum estates huius domus nomen in annalibus 

 Wiccamicis notissimum. Nostra; mox Academice particeps et 

 CoUegii Corporis Christi alumnus duos fere et quinquaginta 

 abhinc annos graduatus est. 



In opt>i9o\oyia quam vocant hie profecto familiam ducit : hoc 

 gubernante Societas Zoologica Britannica laude maxima floret ; 

 horti autem Zoologici Londinenses nullis usquam cedunt. (juod 

 ad doctrinam exquisitiorem et rei Zoologies peritiam attinet, 

 illud potissimum dixerim, hunc regionum Zoologicarum .laturam 

 et limites primum perspexisse cum regionibus sex constitutis, 

 Palxarctica, Nearctica, Neotropicali, -Ethiopica, Orieotali, 

 Australi, orbem terra- non hominum civitatibus sed ferarum 

 generibus partiretur. Quam rationem quinquaginta fere abhinc 

 annos excogitatam plurimi ita emendare et corrigere conati 

 sunt, quo in numero erat ipse Huxley, vir in hoc genere doc- 

 trinae prxstantissimus, ut etiam hodie probatissima et naturae 

 convenientissima esse videatur, Multa docuit hie vir ingeniosis- 

 simus quie adhuc omnium iudicio comprobantur, velut Africee 

 septentrionalia harenosie Nomadum solitudini superiacentia re 

 vera Paltearctica esse atque Europa; aftinia ; Arabia; autem 

 meridiana in regionem Airicanam sive .Ethiopicam cadere : de 

 duabus etiam America; continentibus felicissime monuit, banc 

 ab ilia divioi, non isthmo illo Panamensi, sed septentrionali 

 Mexicce latere, cum ultra citraque banc quasi lineam accura- 

 tissime descriptam diversissima ferarum genera inveniantur. 



Sir Henry Roscoe, F. R.S., has been elected Vice- 

 Chancellor of the University of London for the ensuing year. 



Prof. J. G. MacGregor, F. R.S., professor of physics in 

 Dalhousie College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been elected to 

 succeed Prof. Tait as professor of physics in the University 

 of Edinburgh. 



Dr. F. H. New.man, of the Royal College of Science, 

 London, has been appointed director of technical education and 

 principal of Tullie House, Carlisle. Tullie House consists of a 

 (jublic library, museum and school of art. It is the intention 

 of the committee to build a technical school at an early date, 

 (he land having been already purchased. Dr. Newman com- 

 mences his duties on July i. 



