ON OCCUPATION OF A TABLE AT THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES. 1 49 



though the Sea-Birds Preservation Act contains a provision (in section 3) 

 for varying the close time therein enacted on due application, no such 

 application appears ever to hava been made on the ground of detriment 

 to the herring fisheries caused by sea-birds ; while there can be no reason- 

 able doubt that any application for shortening the close time on that 

 ground, if duly made, would be granted — circumstances which would 

 seem to show that the conclusions of the Commissioners were not gene- 

 rally shared by those interested in the fisheries. On the other hand, your 

 Committee may refer to the fact, already mentioned in former Reports, 

 that several applications have been made for prolonging the existence of 

 the close time. 



With regard to the Wild-Fowl Preservation Act your Committee has 

 to report that the discontent caused by its establishing a close time, 

 different from that which was originally proposed by your Committee, 

 still exists in some quarters, but that the power of variation the Act con- 

 tains has been put in force in many counties ; and your Committee trusts 

 when this power has been still further exercised, as it doubtless will be, 

 and the Act practically brought into accordance with your Committee's 

 first proposal, of which there are many indications, dissatisfaction will be 

 reduced to a minimum, or will altogether cease. 



A Bill for the Protection of Freshwater Fish has been introduced into 

 Parliament during the present Session, and will doubtless receive the 

 Royal assent. It has not, however, been of a kind that needed any action 

 on the part of your Committee. 



In view of any proceedings which may be taken in the Session of 1879 

 in regard to the recommendations of the Scottish Herring Fishery Com- 

 missioners already recited, as well as on general grounds, your Committee 

 respectfully urges its reappointment. 



Report of the Committee appointed for the purpose of arranging 

 with Dr. Dohkn for the occupation of a Table at the Zoological 

 Station at Naples ; the Committee consisting of Mr. Dew-Smith 

 {Secretary), Professor Huxley, Dr. Carpenter, Dr. GrWYN Jeffreys, 

 Mr. Sclater, Dr. M. Foster, Mr. F. M. Balfour, and Professor 

 Ray Lankester. 



Your Committee have the honour to report that the working of the Zoo- 

 logical Station is proceeding in the most satisfactory manner, and that its 

 efficiency has greatly increased since the last report was made. 



Since August 1, 1877, no less than twenty-one naturalists have been 

 engaged in working at the Station, which is a larger number than in any 

 former year. 



The steam launch presented by the Berlin Academy of Sciences has 

 been of great service in providing animals found at a distance from Naples, 

 and of short-lived animals requiring rapid transit, to enable them to be 

 used in a sufficiently fresh condition. 



