236 Sheppard : Hull's Contribution to Science. 



Dr. Henry Cooper read papers ' On the Mortality of Hull in 

 the autumn of 1849''''" and 'On the Prevalence of Diseases 

 in Hull.' Dr. Munro contributed 'Statistics relative to the 

 Northern Whale Fisheries from 1772 to 1852,' a paper contain- 

 ing- many interesting figures, as does also a paper ' On the 

 Causes, Extent, and Prevention of Crime, with especial reference 

 to Hull,' by the Rev. James Selkirk, chaplain to the Hull 

 Gaol. J. A. Forster and George Locking read papers to the 

 section on Mechanics, but these hardly come within the scope 

 of these notes. 



Such is a summary of the titles of the scientific papers read 

 at that meeting of the association. Were a meeting to be held 

 here this year it is pleasing- to be able to state that there would 

 not be any difficulty in securing- valuable papers by local workers 

 on as great a variety of subjects as those read in 1853. But 

 that is on account of the revival in scientific matters that has 

 taken place in recent years. Fifteen or twenty years ago it 

 would have been impossible to have done this. 



In 1840 the Hull Zoological Gardens, consisting of about 

 seven acres of land, were opened and were much appreciated 

 for a time. They were situated on Spring Bank and contained 

 many valuable animals. In its latter days various non-zoological 

 attractions were introduced to secure support, and the gardens 

 were abandoned about 1862, the site now being built upon. 

 A fountain, the 'ruins,' various trees, etc., were transferred to 

 the parks. 



The Botanic Gardens, in Linnaeus Street, were established in 

 181 2, and were eventually transferred to that excellent site now 

 occupied by Hymers College and grounds. They shared the 

 same fate as that of the Zoological Gardens. A brief reference 

 will be made to them later. Botanic Gardens Station will ever 

 remind Hull people of what they have lost, though to a certain 

 extent three parks carry on the work. 



References should be made to the work accomplished by 

 Hull societies other than those already mentioned. Apparently 

 the earliest of these was founded in June 1792 by the then Vicar 

 (Rev. J. H. Bromby) and eight others. This was called the 

 'Society for Literary Information,' and seems to have had a 

 successful career for five or six years. The more important 

 papers read at the meetings were selected for printing, and the 

 manuscripts were bound into two large quarto volumes — one of 



* On the occasion of the cholera outbreak. 



Naturalist^ 



