ON THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES. 151 



and nearly as large as, the original Station. The progress of the work 

 has been mentioned in several previous Reports ; and the Direction is now 

 to be congratulated on the completion of this costly undertaking. Most 

 of the rooms are already occupied.' 



A bacteriological laboratory, which is placed under the direction of 

 Dr. Frank, formerly assistant to Professor Koch, was opened on May 1. 

 This department, which is especially maintained by Italian coiitributions, 

 and is intended to promote a knowledge of marine bacteria, will in the 

 first instance co-operate with the local efforts to investigate the sanitary 

 condition of the Port of Naples and the neighbouring coast. Two or 

 three naturalists are now devoting themselves to these researches. 



The chemical department of the physiological laboratory has been 

 completed under the direction of Dr. W. v. Schroeder, of Strasburg, who 

 Las previously carried out physiological investigations at the Station. 

 Several universities and states are already taking an interest in this 

 department — a circumstance which it is anticipated will contribute 

 towards the success as well as the support of the new branch. 



Investigations of a practical bearing on the fishery industry, carried 

 out primarily at the instigation of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture 

 and Commerce, have been prosecuted with energy. An important memoir 

 on the question of the propagation of fishes and the nature of their ova has 

 been published in the ' Mittheilungen ' and the official 'Bulletin,' by 

 Dr. Raffaele, of Naples, one of the assistants in the Station. Special 

 arrangements have been made for these studies in the new building and 

 the researches are being carried on actively. Additional proof of the 

 urgent need of such practical investigations was furnished by an agita- 

 tion on the question of trawl-fishing, which was got up last year in 

 Naples and the neighbourhood, and resulted in numerous contradictory 

 demands being addressed to the Ministry upon the subject. 



Several ofiicers belonging to the Italian and Russian navies have 

 received instruction during the past year in the methods of collecting 

 marine animals and plants. These gentlemen are now embarked on men- 

 of-war, and interesting results may be anticipated from the labours of 

 collectors thus thoroughly qualified. 



During the past year two tables have been taken by Austria. This 

 circumstance is especially significant, as hitherto when applications were 

 made either by Austrian naturalists or by Professor Dohrn himself to the 

 Austrian Government, soliciting the engagement of a table in the Naplea 

 Station, the applications have been rejected on the ground that the 

 existence of a zoological station at Trieste rendered it unnecessary for 

 Austria to lease a table in the Naples Station. It was urged against this 

 argument that the Naples Station ought to be considered as a central 

 institution, and that whatever local institutions might be founded, the 

 international character of the Neapolitan establishment rendered it not 

 only desirable but necessary to secure a footing there. At last two tables 

 have been taken, in consequence of a collective requisition made by the 

 four Austrian universities, in which it was stated that in spite of possessing 

 a zoological station at Trieste the participation of Austria in the Naples 

 Station was still desirable ; its highly- developed organisation, the richness 

 of the local fauna, the excellence of the library, and the association there 

 of scientific workers from all countries, rendering such a participation 

 necessary in the interests of Austrian naturalists. 



Negotiations for securing three tables for Spain are proceeding, and 



