66 
NATURE 
[May 21, 1885 
as will be not only valuable but actually indispensable to the 
practical fisherman ; and in the reports of the work done in the 
new marine laboratory which will be published by the Associa- 
tion, I do not doubt that the basis for future legislation and for 
future methods of sea-fishery will be found. 
I may here venture to mention some of the results obtained by 
the efforts of the naturalists who form the United States Fish 
Commission—at the head of which is Prof. Spencer Baird. I 
would, however, especially remark that the Commission has 
only been at work for ten years, and that very great practical 
results cannot be expected at once. A vast amount of know- 
ledge has to be obtained before we can deal practically with all 
the various kinds of sea-fishes ; and it is to me a proof of the 
wonderful sagacity and activity of the American naturalists that 
they have already been able to do what they have done in the 
practical direction. 
Prof. Baird has especially attempted to artificially cultivate 
sea-fishes. It seems to him that it is better, if it be possible, 
to replenish the seas by stocking them with young fish, to take 
the place of those removed by fishermen, rather than to impose 
legislative restrictions and penalties upon the fishermen. The 
attempt to artificially cultivate sea fish is an admirable example 
of the relation of scientific knowledge—that is, thorough and 
cause-reaching knowledge—to practical commercial operations. 
There are two distinct stages in this attempt at artificial culti- 
vation. The first is the scientific. You must ascertain how, 
when, and where the fish naturally breeds ; you must find out, 
experimentally, how to procure its eggs, fertilise them, and rear 
the young to a given size—on a small scale. That is the busi- 
ness of the scientific naturalist. When he has ascertained all 
the details of this operation—which differ entirely in the case of 
different fishes, and may take years to ascertain—then the second 
stage is entered on. The commercial man then comes forward, 
and in the light of the knowledge obtained for him by the scien- 
tific man, attempts the hatching of the fish on a large scale— 
not by the hundred, but by the million. 
The American Fish Commission has undertaken both stages 
of the work, and the second is necessarily a very costly one. A 
very promising result has been obtained in the artificial breeding 
of codfish, and again in the case of the shad. [Details of these 
operations were here given by the author. ] 
Again, in dealing with the American oyster, the Commission 
has obtained what promises to be a very great success. [Details 
of this case were given. ] 
But there is an almost unlimited field of work before the 
American Commission. 
Experiments and observations similar to those carried out by 
the American Commission, will be undertaken by the Biological 
Association at Plymouth. For example, the artificial cultivation 
of that most valuable of British fishes, the sole, will be at once 
taken in hand. At present absolutely nothing is known as to 
the spawning of the sole—the male fish is not even recognised. 
In the first instance the naturalists at Plymouth will study the 
eggs and the mode of spawning of the sole, and the way in which 
the eggs are fertilised naturally. Then the necessary conditions 
for the rearing of the young fish will be ascertained. After that 
it will be possible to hatch a vast number of young soles and 
turn them out into Plymouth Sound, and to determine in this 
particular area, which is admirably adapted by its natural 
delimitations for the experiment, whether the take of soles in the 
Sound has been increased by the operation. 
Similar experiments will be tried with other fish; and also 
knowledge will be gained as to the food of various fishes, and 
the causes which determine their movements, their increase, and 
their diminution in the neighbourhood of Plymouth. 
This knowledge will help us to form sound and reliable con- 
clusions as to the supposed injurious effects of steam trawlers 
and other modes of fishing, and so lead on to sensible and 
valuable legislation in regard to the seasons and modes of 
fishing best suited to obtain the maximum benefit from the 
harvest of the cea. 
The English oyster, though differing from its American con- 
gener, can no doubt be brought under control by a thorough- 
going knowledge of all the conditions affecting it at all periods 
of life ; and this it will be a first duty of the Marine Biological 
Association to attain. [Suggested inquiries as to the oyster 
were here mentioned. ] 
Lastly, the subject of “bait” is one of great importance, 
which we shall be able to deal with effectively. Not only shall 
we find new and effective baits, at present neglected Wy our line 
fishermen, but we shall be able to direct the cultivation of such 
valuable baits as the mussel and the limpet. 
There is no fact which gives one so vivid an idea of the 
immense commercial value of sea fisheries as the amount which 
is annually expended on mussels for use as bait in those fisheries. 
There are few statistics on this subject, or indeed on any matters 
relating to our sea fisheries, and it will be one object of the Marine ~ 
Biological Association to collect such statistics. But there is a 
certain amount of information as to the use of mussels for bait. 
Thus between October, 1882, and May, 1883, twenty-eight 
boats engaged in the haddock fishery at Eyemouth, in the North 
of Scotland, used 620 tons of mussels (about 47,000,coo indi- 
viduals), costing nearly 1800/. to the fishermen, that is to say, 
over a million and a half of mussels for the whole time, or about 
7coo a day to each boat—at the rate of one penny for twelve 
mussels, The total value of mussels used for bait in the deep 
sea line fisheries of the British coasts must amount to many 
hundred thousand pounds in a year—and we can only roughly 
guess at the value of the fish caught by this large expenditure on 
bait. In spite of the great economic importance of the mussel, 
its complete history of reproduction and growth is not known, 
and though in France and Germany it is carefully and profitably 
cultivated, very few attempts have been made on the British 
coast to protect or to artificially favour mussel scalps so as to 
make them remunerative properties. 
This is a subject with which a marine laboratory would enable 
us to deal in a very short time. The same general remarks, 
mutatis mutandis, apply to the second most important bait, viz, 
the limpet. 
Before concluding this sketch of the work which lies before 
the managers of a marine biological laboratory, I may say a few 
words as to the nature of the buildings and equipment required 
for such an institution. 
The most efficient scientific laboratory of the kind is that 
erected at Naples by Dr. Dohrn, a drawing of which is exhibited. 
The Naples laboratory, with its tanks, row boats, and steam 
launches, has cost about 20,0007, and involves an annual 
expenditure of about 4ooc7, A staff of observers is paid out of 
this sum, and the efforts of the institution have hitherto been 
entirely directed to the obtaining of accurate scientific know- 
ledge with regard to the fauna and flora of the Bay of Naples. 
It is justly regarded as one of the most important scientific 
institutions in Europe. 
The United States Fish Commission have erected, from time 
to time, various small laboratories, and are now about to expend 
10,000/7, on a laboratory at Wocd’s Hole, and 20,coo/. on build: 
ing fish-ponds protected by piers of masonry. Since its commence- 
ment, the United States Commission has received from the Imperial 
revenue about 300,0007. In 1884 alone it received 70,000/. It 
must be remembered that these large sums cover the expense of 
very extensive operations in fish-breeding on a commercial scale, 
and are not solely for the purpose of preliminary investigation. 
The Marine Biological Association proposes to proceed in a 
modest manner, arranging in the first instance for the carrying 
out of the necessary experimental inquiries. A site has been 
obtained on the Citadel Hill, at Plymouth, by permission of the 
authorities of the War Office, and here will be erected a 
laboratory, comprising on the ground floor large and small 
tanks, and above, a series of working rooms fitted with small 
tanks. Through all a stream of sea-water will be driven by 
pumping apparatus, from large tanks in the basement, containing 
several thousand gallons. These reservoirs will only be re- 
plenished two or three times in the year. Boats, including a 
steam-launch, will be required, and two or three fishermen, 
who will act as attendants. A resident superintendent, who 
will be a thoroughly qualified naturalist, will be appointed at a 
salary of 200/. a year, and will be lodged on the premises. 
Naturalists will frequent the laboratory at their own expense 
for the purpose of study, and from time to time competent 
investigators will be appointed to carry out particular inquiries. 
The latter will be paid for their work from special sources, not 
from the general income of the Association until that reaches a 
large amount. Great assistance will be afforded to the work of 
the Association by the local fleet of fishing boats, which is very 
numerous, and comprises some vessels of large size. It is esti- 
mated that a capital sum of 10,coo/., and the prospect of an 
income from annual subscribers, members of the Association | 
and others, of about 500/. a year, will enable the important work 
which has been taken in hand to be commenced. The Council 
of the Association feel very great confidence that they will be 
