l]2 HEPORT — 1889. 



On April 18 the apparatus was taken on board the salvage steamer 

 ' Hyaena,' on one of the expeditions of the Liverpool Marine Biolog^y 

 Committee, but the weather was so unfavourable that no experiments 

 could be attempted. 



After several unsuccessful attempts to arrange another cruise, the use of 

 the steam tug ' Spindrift ' was procured from the Liverpool Steam Tug 

 Co., and on July 20 an expedition set out from Holyhead for the purpose of 

 conducting the experiments. Several hauls were taken with the net, and 

 the materials obtained were placed in the hands of Mr. I. C. Thompson, 

 F.L.S.,tbe results of whose investigation will appear in the ' Proceedings 

 of the Liverpool Biological Society.' The apparatus worked without a 

 hitch, save once, when a small piece of rope which was floating in the 

 water became twisted round the line and thus prevented the descent of 

 the messengers. 



The possibility of such an occurrence had always been foreseen, but, 

 in our opinion, it is not sufficiently serious to militate against the use of 

 the apparatus in shallow water. The operation does not take long, and if 

 one haul should fail it is easy to make another. 



In the exploration of great depths, to which it is hoped this tow-net 

 may shortly be applied, the case is different. The period occupied in let- 

 ting out and hauling in the line, taken in conjunction with the time required 

 for dragging the net, is so great that it becomes imperative to remove 

 every possible risk of losing an observation. Furthermore, the time occu- 

 pied by the messengers themselves in descending the line is a not unim- 

 portant factor in the case. 



We were so much impressed by these considerations, that it was 

 resolved to attempt the construction of a lock which should bring 

 about the opening and closing of the net by naeans of an electric current, 

 transmitted along wires passing down the interior of the line by which 

 the net is drawn. This plan has so far succeeded that a provisional model 

 has been constructed, which will be exhibited to the present meeting of 

 the Association. The lock contains an electro-magnet, the armature of 

 which actuates an escapement which, the first time contact is made, liber- 

 ates the opening rod, and the second time the closing rod of the net. 

 Such an arrangement is obviously instantaneous in its action, and not 

 liable to interference from external causes. 



In conclusion, we desire to express our indebtedness to Messrs. B. & 

 S. Massey, who have constructed the apparatus for us. 



Third Report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. Thiselton-Dyer 

 (Secretary), Mr. Carruthers, Mr. Ball, Professor Oliver, and 

 Mr. Forbes, appointed for the purpose of continuing the pre- 

 paration of a Report on our present knowledge of the Flora of 

 China. 



SixcE the last meeting of the British Association two additional parts of 

 the Index Florce Sinensis have been published, bringing the enumeration 

 of known and the description of new species as far as the Loganiacece. The 

 Committee now, therefore, look forward with some confidence to the 

 completion of their labours at no distant date. 



i^'urther extensive and valuable collections have been received from 



