228 THE ZOOLoGIST. 
Billingsgate Market amounted to 500 tons. A ton of fish was about equal 
in weight to 28 sheep, so that 500 tons of fish were equivalent to a flock of 
14,000 sheep.—Prof. Ray Lankester began by pointing out that while 
agriculture is in this country a refined branch of chemistry, our fishing 
industries were still barbaric; we recklessly seized the produce of the sea, 
regardless of the consequences of the method, the time, or the extent of our 
depredations. In point of fact we knew exceedingly little about the minute 
details of the life of marine animals; and he submitted that a laboratory on 
the sea-shore, provided with boat and fishermen, and having within its walls 
tanks for hatching eggs and watching sea fish and conveniences for the 
work of naturalists trained in making such observations, was the only way 
to meet the deficiency in our knowledge of the subject.—A considerable 
portion of the lecture was taken up with a rehearsal of the work done by 
the United States Fish Commission. Stress was laid upon Prof. Spencer 
Baird’s attempt to cultivate sea fishes artificially, and the actual results in 
the production of Cod and Shad were stated. Experiments and observations 
similar to those carried out by the American Commission are to be under- 
taken by the Biological Association at Plymouth. The artificial cultivation 
of the Sole is to be at once taken in hand; and when something has been 
discovered about the spawning of the fish, and hatching accomplished, 
“vast numbers of young Soles” are to be turned into the Sound. Other 
fishes, of course, will be subjected to similar experiments. The Association 
recognises it as a first duty to obtain a “thorough-going knowledge of all 
the conditions” affecting the English Oyster. It will cast about in search 
of new and effective baits for line fishermen, and will do something towards 
cultivating on some system the familiar but much wasted Mussel and 
Limpet. A site for the Marine Laboratory has been obtained on Citadel 
Hill, Plymouth, by permission of the War authorities. The ground-floor 
will comprise large and small tanks, with a series of working rooms fitted 
with small tanks above. From reservoirs in the basement, replenished two 
or three times in the year, a stream of sea-water will be driven by pumping 
apparatus through the establishment. A steam launch is required, besides 
small boats. A resident superintendent, ‘* who will be a thoroughly qualified 
naturalist,” is to be appointed at a salary of £200 a year. The two or three 
attendants, constituting his staff, must be fishermen. Competent investi- 
gators, appointed from time to time to carry out particular inquiries, will be 
paid from special sources, and not at first from the general income of the 
Association. Naturalists, at their own expense, may attend at the laboratory 
for purposes of study. Important assistance is naturally expected from the 
local fleet of fishing-boats. This, as remarked by Prof. Ray Lankester, is 
a modest beginning. The funds do not allow of more at present. The 
estimate of ways and means was, on May 13th, a capital sum of £10,000, 
and an income, from annual subscribers, members, &c., reckoned at £500 a 
