288 REPOUT— 1882. 



may be arrived at, but it would be premature now to generalise from the 

 data supplied to us. 



In conclusion -we take this opportunity of expressing our best thanks 

 to the Master and Elder Brethren of the Trinity House, the Commissioners 

 of Northern Lights, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, for their 

 ready co-operation and assistance, through their officers and men, in the 

 inquiry. 



We respectfully request our reappointment. 



Report of the Coiiwiittee, consisting of the late Professor F. M. 

 Balfour, Professor Newton, Professor Huxley, Mr. Sclater, 

 Professor Kay Lankester, Professor Allman, Dr. M. Foster, and 

 Mr. Percy Sladen (Secretary), appointed for the purpose of 

 arranging for the occupation of a Table at the Zoological Station 

 at Naples. 



The Report upon the Zoological Station at Naples which your Committee 

 have the pleasure of presenting is of a highly satisfactory character. 

 The activity and prosperity of the institution continue in a course of 

 steady development, the number of naturalists who have visited the 

 Station during the past year shows a regular increase, and the published 

 results of the investigations undertaken by them stand in proportionate 

 ratio. No better proof than this could be fm^nished of the important 

 position held by the Station in relation to the progress of Zoological 

 science generally. In the ' Bericht ' for 1881, issued by Professor Dohrn, 

 attention is very naturally drawn to this increase of working visitors, 

 notwithstanding the fact that during the ten years which have now 

 elapsed since the foundation of the Station at Naples nearly a dozen 

 establishments with a similar object in view have sprung into existence 

 elsewhei-e. In no instance, however, can these kindred institutions be 

 said to rival, either in magnitude or in scope, the proportions of their 

 Neapolitan forerunner ; and a caution is very justly pronounced in the 

 report above mentioned against the indiscriminate multiplication of small 

 and ill-organised stations, as being a means of dissipating the pecuniary 

 support which is necessary for the maintenance and development of an 

 efficient establishment. From the fact that the gross income which can 

 be regarded as obtainable for such pui'poses is always of a comparatively 

 limited extent, any division of patronage necessarily tends to weaken the 

 power and to lessen the circle of usefulness, which the perfectly organised 

 and adequately supported establishment cannot fail to possess. This 

 warning is the outcome of no narrow-minded fear, but of a logical 

 inference ; for the conclusion is unquestionable that three or four large 

 and well- organised stations would be able to contribute more to the 

 advancement of science than a number of smaller institutions, each of 

 which, on account of the division of means and the consequent inadequate 

 endowment, would by itself be capable of doing comparatively little. The 

 erection of numerous stations on coasts which are neither extensive nor 

 diversified becomes on this account extravagant, as -well as detrimental to 

 prosperity and success. According to the scheme of Dr. Dohrn, the dis- 



