/une 26, 1884] 



NA TURE 



199 



view of increasing the fishing, more especially on the west coast ; 

 < 2) the further collection of material for determining the nature 

 of the food of the useful fishes met with on the Scottish coast ; 

 <3) the further investigation of the percentage of immature 

 herring and other food fishes destroyed under present methods of 

 fishing ; (4) the investigation of the influence of sea-birds, para- 

 sites, &c, on the supply of food fishes ; (5) the study of the 

 development, rate of growth, and general life history of the 

 herring and other economic fishes, and the further study of the 

 spawning process, and the nature of the eggs of fish ; (6) the 

 determination of the best means of restocking deserted fishing 

 grounds, by artificial cultivation or otherwise, of herring, cod, 

 flat fish, &c. ; (7) the determination of the practicability of in- 

 creasing • the supply by artificial means of lobsters, mussels, 

 oysters, and other shell fish ; (8) the inquiry as to the influence 

 of fungi and other minute organisms in destroying the life of 

 useful fishes, and the conditions which predispose to the attacks 

 of these organisms. The Board estimates that a sum of at 

 the very least 1000/. will be required during 1884-85 in 

 order to carry on such inquiries properly. It would also 

 immensely facilitate matters if the sailing cruiser belonging to 

 the Board were superseded by a steam-vessel of somewhat larger 

 size, and H.M.S. Jackal replaced by a seaworthy boat adapted 

 for the work of a fishery cruiser. It is also of importance that 

 the Admiralty should encourage and take part in scientific re- 

 searches, not only on our own coasts but all over the world. 

 Comparatively little has been done by Great Britain for the 

 furtherance of our knowledge of the nature and habits of fish 

 on her coast, important as these are as articles of food and com- 

 merce. The Board confidently anticipates that with the assist- 

 ance now asked the investigations would yield most excellent 

 results, as the Board is already an institution with a large staff 

 of intelligent officers capable of making observations, collecting 

 materials, &c, as several distinguished naturalists and the scien- 

 tific members have promised to assist it gratuitously, and, more- 

 over, that the exertions already made have yielded results of the 

 highest promise. The deputation was most favourably received. 

 There has been considerable alarm recently with reference to 

 the parasites in that useful and plentiful fish, mackerel ; so much 

 so that Prof. Huxley has thought it advisable to write a letter to 

 Mr. J. L. Sayer of Lower Thames Street, showing that any 

 such alarm is unnecessary: — "It is perfectly true, " he writes, 

 "that mackerel, like all other fish, are more or less infested by 

 parasites, one of which, a small thread-worm, is often so abun- 

 lant as to be conspicuous when the fish is opened. But it is not 

 true that there is any reason to believe that this thread-worm 

 would be injurious to a man, even if he swallowed it uncooked and 

 alive, and to speak of it as a possible cause of cholera is sheer 

 nonsense. I have no doubt that the ' excessive use of mackerel 

 and mild ale,' whether separately or in combination, would be 

 followed by unpleasant results, not only at this season of the 

 year but at any other. But I undertake to say that the conse- 

 quences would be the same whether the fish contained thread- 

 worms or not. It is very much to be regretted ■ that the food- 

 supply of the people should be diminished, and that the fishing 

 population should be robbed of the fruit of their labours by the 

 authoritative propagation of statements which are devoid of 

 foundation ; and if you think the publication of this letter will be 

 of any use to the public and to the fishing interest, it is at your 

 service." 



A conversazione will be held at the International Health Exhi- 

 bition by the Council of the Society of Arts, in conjunction with 

 the Executive Council of the Exhibition, on Wednesday, July 9. 

 The whole of the buildings will be open, and the gardens will 

 be illuminated. 



The Council of the Society of Arts have awarded the Society's 

 Silver Medals to the following readers of papers during the 



Session 1S83-84 : — The Most Hon. the Marquis of Lome, K.T., 

 for his paper on "Canada and its Products"; Rev. J. A. 

 Rivington, for his paper on a " New Process of Permanent Mural 

 Painting, invented by Joseph Keim " ; C. V. Boys, for his paper 

 on " Bicycles and Tricycles" ; Prof. Fleeming Jenkin, F.R.S., 

 for his paper on "Telpherage"; I. Probert, for his paper on 

 "Primary Batteries for Electric Lighting"; H. H. Johnston, 

 for his paper on "The Portuguese Colonies of West Africa" ; 

 Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson, for his paper on " Recent Progress 

 in Dynamo-Electric Machinery " ; Edward C. Stanford, F.C.S., 

 for his paper on "Economic Applications of Seaweed"; W. 

 Seton-Karr, for his paper on "The New Bengal Rent Bill"; 

 C. Purdon Clarke, CLE., for his paper on " Street Architecture 

 in India." Thanks were voted to the following Members of 

 Council for the papers read by them : — W. H. Preece, F.R.S., 

 vice-president of the Society, for his paper on " The Progress of 

 Electric Lighting"; B. W. Richardson, M.D., F.R.S., vice- 

 president of the Society, for his paper on "Vital Steps in 

 Sanitary Progress"; Col. Webber, R.E., C.B., Member of 

 Council, for his paper on " Telegraph Tariffs " ; B. Francis 

 Cobb, vice-president of the Society, for his paper on " Borneo " ; 

 J. M. Maclean, Member of Council, for his paper on " State 

 Monopoly of Railways in India " ; W. G. Pedder, Member of 

 Council, for his paper on " The Existing Law of Landlord and 

 Tenant in India." 



The Italian Government proposes to found a central magnetic 

 observatory at Rome, to be placed under the direction of the 

 Meteorological Office. The Government asks for a vote of 

 176,000 francs, in addition to an annual sum of 5550 francs for 

 general expenses, and 11,500 francs fox personnel. 



The Times Berlin correspondent, telegraphing on Thursday 

 last, states that the reddish-brown atmosphere and the peculiar 

 appearance of the sun and sky which were noticed last year, 

 especially in November, reappeared on the previous evening 

 almost as vividly as ever. 



The results of the analyses made at the Municipal Laboratory 

 of Paris are so satisfactory that tradesmen of that city are holding 

 indignation meetings on behalf of the liberty of watering the r 

 liquors and mixing the different kinds of wine. It is needless to 

 state that the public and the administration are equally hostile to 

 any alterations being made in the existing law. But greater 

 precision will now be introduced into the verdict of the experts, 

 and when they declare any liquor to be bad they will state 

 whether it is by adulteration, or alteration of its primitive 

 elements, or mixing with inferior sorts. The development of 

 the institution is so important that forty persons are now engaged 

 in this kind of work. Similar institutions have been created in 

 provincial cities, and a central administration established in 

 Paris. The late M. Wurtz was the head of this useful Bureau ; 

 his place is now filled by M. Berthelot. 



The Russian Admiralty has under consideration a plan for an 

 expedition to the North Pole, with a view to benefit by the 

 experience gained by the Jcannctte disaster. The expedition is 

 proposed to start from the Jeannette, Bennet, and Henriette 

 Islands, where large depots will be established. The journey 

 will be continued thence to Franz-Josef Land by steamer, and 

 further northwards by sledges and on foot. The expedition 

 would be divided into three parties, the first of which would act 

 as a kind of vanguard, the two following not moving forward 

 until suitable camping places had been found and depots esta- 

 blished. This system would make the progress safe and syste- 

 matic. It is estimated that the expedition would require three 

 years to reach the Pole and to return to Northern Siberia. The 

 expenses of the same will probably be covered by a national 

 subscription, the Government, and ^the Russian Geographical 

 Society. 



