712 REPORT — 1895. 



eries experts, to spend a couple of years in exploring' more systematically than Las 

 yet been done, or can otherwise be done, our British coasts from the Laminarian zone 

 down to the deep mud. No one could be better fitted to organise and direct such 

 an expedition than Dr. John Murray. 



Such a detailed survey of the bottom and of the surface waters, of their condi- 

 tion and their contents, at all times of the year for a couple of years, would give 

 us the kind of information we requii-e for the solution of some of the more difficult 

 fishery problems — such as, the extent and causes of the wanderings of our fishes, 

 which ' nurseries ' are supplied by particular spawning grounds, the reason of the 

 sudden disappearance of a fish such as the haddock from a locality, and in eeneral 

 the history of our food fishes throughout the year. It is creditable to our Govern- 

 ment to have done the pioneer work in exploring the great oceans, but surely it 

 would be at least equally creditable to them — and perha])S more directly and im- 

 mediately profitable, if they look for some such return from scientific work — to 

 explore our own seas and our own sea-fisheries. 



There is still another subject connected wilh the fisheries which ihe biologist 

 can do much to elucidate — I mean the diseases of edible animals and the efi'ect 

 upon man of the various diseased conditions. It is well known that the consump- 

 tion of mussels taken from stagnant or impure water is sometimes followed by 

 severe symptoms of irritant poisoning which may result in rapid death. This 

 'musselling' is due to tlie presence of an organic alkaloid or ptomaine, in the liver 

 of the mollusc, formed doubtless by a micro organism in tlie impure water. It is 

 clearly of the greatest importance to determine accurately under what conditions 

 the mussel can become infected by the micro-organism, in what stage it is injurious 

 to man, and whether, as is supposed, steeping in pure water with or without the 

 addition of carbonate of soda will render poisonous mussels fit for food. 



During this last year there has been an outcry, almost amounting to a scare, 

 and seriously affecting the mai'ket,' as to the supposed connection between oysters 

 taken from contaminated water and typhoid fever. This, like the musselling, is 

 clearly a case for scientific investigation, and, with my colleague Professor Boyce, 

 I have commenced a series of experiments and observations, partly at the Port 

 Erin Biological Station, where we liave oysters laid down on diflerent parts of the 

 shore under very diftiprent conditions, as well as in dishes and tanks, and partly at 

 University College, Liverpool. 



Our object is to determine the effect of various conditions of water and bottom 

 upon the life and health of the oyster, the effect of the addition of various im- 

 purities to the water, the conditions under which the oyster becomes infected with 

 the typhoid Bacillus, and the resulting effect upon the oyster, the period during 

 which the oyster remains infectious, and lastly, whether any simple practicable 

 measures can be taken (1) to determine whether an oj'ster is infected with typhoid, 

 and (2) to render such an oyster innocuous to man. As Professor Boyce and I 

 propose to lay a paper upon this subject before the Section, I sliall not occupy 

 further time now by a statement of our methods and results. 



I have probably already sufficiently indicated to you the extent and impoi'tance 

 of the applications of our science to practical questions connected with our fishing 

 industries. But if the zoologist has great opportunities for usefulness, he ought 

 always to bear in mind that he has also grave responsibilities in connection with 

 Fisheries investigations. Much depends upon the results of his work. Private 

 enterprise, public opinion, local regulations, and even imperial legislation may all 

 be affected by his decisions. He ought not lightly to come to conclusions upon 

 weighty matters. I am convinced that of all the varied lines of research in modern 

 zoology, none contains problems more interesting and intricate than those of Bio- 

 nomics, Oceanography, and the Fisheries, and of these three series the problems 

 connected with our Fisheries are certainly not the least interesting, not the least 

 intricate, and not the least important in their bearing upon the welfare of man- 

 kind. 



' I am told that between December and March the oyster trade decreased 75 

 per cent. 



