Oct. 2 1, 1880] 



NATURE 



599 



desired extent has been gready strengthened. This work was 

 for six years most efficiently directed by the late Mr. James W. 

 Milner, and is now in charge of Major T. B. Ferguson, al-o 

 Commissioner for the State of Maryland, by whom has been 

 devised the machinery for propagation on a gigantic scale, by the 

 aid of steam, which is now so successfully in use. 



The investigation of the statistics and history of the fisheries 

 has perhaps assumed greater proportions than was at first con- 

 templated. One of the immediate causes of the establishment of 

 the Commission was the dissension between the line and net- 

 fishermen of southern New England ^vith reference to laws for 

 the protection of the deteriorating fisheries of that region. The 

 first work of Prof. Baird as Commissioner was to investigate the 

 causes of this deterioration, and the report of that year's work 

 includes much statistical material. In the same year a zoological 

 and statistical survey of the great lakes was accomplished, and 

 various circulars were sent out in contemplation of the prepara- 

 tion of monographic reports upon the special branches of the 

 fisheries some of which have already been published. 



Some thirty trained experts are now engaged in the preparation 

 of a statistical report on the present state and the past history of 

 the fisheries of the United States. This will be finished next 

 year, but the subject will hereafter be continued in monographs 

 upon separate branches of the fisheries, such as the holibut 

 fishery, the mackerel fishery, the shad fi.-hery, the cod fishery, 

 the herring fishery, the smelt fishery, and various others of less 

 importance. 



Hundreds, and even thousands of specimens of a single species 

 are often obtained. After those for the National Museum have 

 been selected, a great number of duplicates remain. These are 

 identified, labelled, and made up into sets for exchange with 

 other museums and for distribution to schools and small museums. 

 This IS in accordance with tlie time-honoured usage of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, and is regarded as an important branch of the 

 work. Several specialists are employed solely in making up 

 these sets and in gathering material required for their completion. 

 Within three years fifty sets of fishes in alcohol, includin;^ at 

 least ten thousand specimens, have been sent out, and fifty sets of 

 invertebrates, embracing 175 species and 25,000 specimens. One 

 hundred smaller sets of representative forms intended for educa- 

 tional purposes, to be given to schools and academies, are now being 

 prepared. The arrangement of the invertebrate duplicates is in 

 the charge of Mr. Richard Rathbun ; of the fishes, m that of Dr. T. 

 H. Bean. Facilities have also been given to many institutions for 

 making collections on their ow^n behalf. Six annual reports have 

 been published, with an aggregate of 5,650 pages. These cover 

 the period 1871 to 1878. Many papers relating to the work have 

 been published elsewhere, particularly descriptions of new species 

 and results of special faunal exploration. 



The season of 1880 was opened by the participation of the 

 Commission in the International Exhibition at Berlm. The first 

 honour-prize, the gift of the Emperor of Germany, was a^^arded 

 to Prof. Baird, not alone as an acknowledgment that the display 

 of the United States was the most perfect and most imposing, but 

 as a personal tribute to one who, in the words of the president 

 of the Deutscher Fisherei Verein, is regarded in Europe as the 

 first fish-culturalist in the world. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE 



Oxford. — This year the term commences somewhat later than 

 usual. The professorial lectures on natural science begin next 

 week'. At the University Museum Dr. Odling lectures on 

 Typical Alcohols, Prof. Clifton on Experimental Electricity, 

 Prof. Price on Hydro mechanics. Prof. Story-Maskelyne, M.P., 

 on the Elements of Crystallography, Prof. Prestwich on Strati- 

 graphical Geology, and Prof. RoUeston on Digestion. 



Lectures are also given in the Chemical Department at the 

 Museum by Mr. W. \V. Fisher, on Inorganic Chemistry, by Mr. 

 J. Watts on Organic Chemistry, and by Dr. F. D. Brown on 

 Chemical Affinity. In the Biological Department Messrs. C. 

 Robertson, W. H. Jackson, and A. P. Thomas form classes for 

 instruction in Microscopy and Zoology. Mr. Barclay Thompson 

 gives a course on the Comparative Anatomy of the Mammalia. 

 In the Clarendon Laboratory Mr. Stocker lectures on Elementary 

 Mechanics, and, with Mr. V. Jones, gives instruction in practical 

 physics. 



At the University Observatory Prof. Pritchard will lecture on 



Spherical Astronomy, including instruments, and will give a 

 course of six lectures on the Precession of the Equinoxes, in- 

 cluding the Lunar Physical Libration. The Observatory is 

 opened on Monday and Tuesday evenings during the term to 

 members of the University who desire to obtain instrumental 

 practice. In his annual report to the Board of Vi.^itors the 

 Professor gives an account of the work carried on during the 

 past year at the Observatory. The long series of observations 

 in reference to the Inequalities in the Moon's Rotation are now 

 finished, and the results will be shortly published. The calcula- 

 tions w ere brought to a successful issue during the Long Vaca- 

 tion, and afford a general confirmation of the investig.ations of 

 Bouvard, Nicollet, and Wichmann, and establish the existence 

 of small but sensible inequalities in the moon's rotation. Careful 

 measurements have also been made by Mr. Plummer of the 

 relative positions of forty stars in the Pleiades, and Mr. Jenkins 

 has measured the relative co-ordinates of 250 stars in the cluster 

 39 Messier. Careful observations have also been made of the 

 component stars of 4 Ur.'oe Majoris and 70 Ophiuchi. With 

 regard to the instruments the Professor writes : — 



"The large refractor has been thoroughly examined and 

 cleaned by Mr. Grubb, the artist who constructed it. This at 

 present is in an eflScient working condition in every respect. 

 From our own resources we have thoroughly overhauled the De 

 La Rue Reflector, and it also is in excellent condition. It is 

 fortunate for the University that both these instniments pass 

 from time to time under the experienced and critical eye of Dr. 

 De La Rue himself. For a time Dr. De La Rue's metallic 

 speculum was replaced by an excellent silvered glass mirror, 

 executed by Mr. With ; the newer mirror possessed the greater 

 capacity of the two, in point of brilUancy of reflected light, but 

 was not deemed quite equal to Dr. De La Rue's in point of 

 definition ; we have therefore returned to the use of the original 

 speculum. 



" In order to carry out a new and important series of astro- 

 nomical observations I soon found that the use of a chronograph 

 was indispensable ; accordingly I have, in conjunction with Mr. 

 Grubb, devised a very inexpensive but practically efiicient form 

 of that instrument. The total cost of this instrument, together 

 with a corresponding and necessary addition to the mechanism 

 of the sidereal clock, has not exceeded 10/. I am told on the 

 best authority that this form of the chronograph will henceforth 

 prove a desirable adjunct in other observatories. 



" With the view of bringing practical astronomy within the 

 reach of a moderate expenditure I have (again in coi Junction w ith 

 Mr. Grubb) devised a modification of existing small equatorial 

 tele-copes, which I anticipate will prove a boon to beginners in 

 astronomical science. 



"Lastly, I have devised and carried into execution a simple 

 form of precessional globe for the use of students in astronomy. 

 It affords very ready means of representing tlie risings and 

 settings of the stars, and the general aspect of the heavens at 

 the remotest periods of time, past and future, and as seen at any 

 locality." 



In the Botanic Garden Prof. Lawson will give instruction on 

 the Minute Anatomy of the Vegetable Tissues. 



The following lectures are given in those colleges which pos- 

 sess laboratories. At Christ Church Mr. Vernon Harcourt 

 lectures on the Non-metallic Elements, and Mr. R. E. Baynes 

 on Dynamical Electricity and Conduction of Heat. At Balliol 

 College Mr. J. W. Ru~seU lectures on Problems in Mechanics, 

 and Mr. H. B. Dixon on Elementary Heat and Light. At 

 Exeter College Mr. Lewis Morgan lectures on Practical 

 Histology, and at Magdalen College Mr. C. J. Yule gives a 

 course of demonstrations on the Chemical Composition of the 

 Body. 



An examination for Natural Science Scholarships is being 

 held by Trinity and Exeter Colleges. The former College has 

 this year for the first time offered a scholarship for proficiency 

 in science. At Merton College the science scholarship (Post- 

 mastership) was not awarded. 



At Balliol College there will be offered next month a science 

 scholarship, on the foundation of Miss Brakenbury, open to all 

 candidates without limitation of age, who shall not have exceeded 

 ei ht terms from matriculation. The scholarship is of the annual 

 value o' 80/,, and is tenable for four years during residence. 

 Papers will be set in the following subjects :—(i) Mechanical 

 Philosophy and Physics, (2) Chemistry, (3) Physiology. Candi- 

 dates will not be expected to offer themselves in more than two 

 of these. There will be a practical examination in one or more 



