ON RESEAECHES ON FOOD-FISHES. 145 



trawling grounds were thus examined in connection with the observations 

 on the development and life-histories of the food-fishes. 



Considering the importance of the work in relation to our knowledge 

 of the food- and other fishes, and the advances in Invertebrate Zoology, 

 the Committee beg to recommend a renewal of the grant (50Z.J for the 

 ensuing year. 



Fourteenth Report of the Committee, consisting of Drs. E. Hull and 

 H. W. Crosskey, Sir Douglas Galton, Professor Gr. A. Lebour, 

 and Messrs. James Glaisher, E. B. Marten, G. H. Morton, 

 W. Pengelly, James Plant, J. Prestwich, I. Egberts, T. S. 

 Stooke, G. J. Symons, W. Topley, Tylden - Wright, E. 

 Wethered, W. Whitaker, and C. E. De Kance (Secretary), 

 appointed for the purpose of investigating the Circulation of 

 Underground Waters in the Permeable Formations of England 

 and Wales, and the Quantity and Character of the Water 

 supplied to various Towns and Districts from these Forma- 

 tions. (Drawn up by C. E. De Eance, Reporter.) 



The drought to which your Committee drew attention in their report last 

 year was continued up to June of the present year, and had a very marked 

 influence in diminishing the volume of water yielded by a large number 

 of spi'ings, and a very considerable diminution of the supply afforded by 

 the remainder, over the greater portion of the central area of England, an 

 area in which underground stores give the larger proportion of the daily 

 water-supply of the population. 



Much useful information has been obtained as to the amount of dimi- 

 nution experienced, but it has been thought advisable to combine it with 

 information now being collected, showing the efiect of the recent heavy 

 rains in re-charging the underground stores. 



Statistics of this nature collected during the past season, probably 

 the most exceptional season of the present century, will necessarily have 

 a permanent value in future calculations as to the actual yield likely 

 to be obtained from a given area after successive years of minimum 

 rainfall. 



It has been thought advisable to defer publishing the information 

 already obtained until next year, when it can be given in a more complete- 

 and useful form. Tour Committee hope that the attention of the Dele- 

 gates of the Associated Scientific Societies may be drawn to the import- 

 ance of this inquiry, and that local observers will give special attention 

 to the date at which the springs of their neighbourhood diminished in 

 yield and subsequently increased ; the date at which any springs ceased' 

 to flow, and that on which they recommenced ; the amount of flow of 

 any springs either daily, weekly, or monthly ; similar records of the 

 heights of the water in wells and borings, whether for long or short 

 periods. The value of such observations would be much enhanced if 

 descriptions be given that will enable the locality to be identified on the 

 one-inch map of the Ordnance Survey and the levels referred to the 

 Ordnance Datum. 



Tour Committee seek re-election, but do not require a grant to carry 

 on their investigations. 



1888. L 



