444, REPORT—1899, 
Zoological and Botanical Publication.—Report of the Convmittee, con- 
sisting of Rey. T. R. R. STessine (Chairman), Professor W. A. 
Herpman, Mr. W. E. Hoyuz, Dr. P. L. Scuarer, Mr. ADAm 
Sepewick, Dr. D. SHarp, Mr. C. D. S#eErsorn, Professor 
W. F. R. Wetpon, Mr. A. C. S—Ewarp, Mr. B. Daypon Jackson, 
and Mr. F. A. BATHER (Secretary). 
TuE Report of this Committee for 1897, specially addressed to the editors of 
academical and periodical publications, has now been sent to all the lead- 
ing societies and journals that publish either zoological or botanical 
communications, or both—about 800 in all. <A special slip was inclosed 
drawing attention to the fact that the recommendations of the Committee 
were applicable to botanical no less than to zoological publications. 
The difficulty of finding many of the desired addresses suggests that the 
compilation of a list of publishing societies and of current periodicals with 
their postal addresses would be of much service to workers in science. 
Existing lists are as a rule deficient in regard to the addresses. 
Circumstances have interfered with the task of, reporting on the cor- 
respondence already received. To deal with this and with any further 
correspondence that may arise out of the circulars, your Committee 
respectfully requests its jg ei without a grant*of nioney. 
Plankton and Physical Conditions of ti the Bnglich Channel.—First 
Report of the Committee, consisting of Professor HK. Ray LANKESTER 
(Chairman), Professor W. A. HerpMan, Mr. H. N. Dickson, and 
Mr. W. GarstanG (Secretary), appointed to make Periodic Investi- 
gations of the Plankton and Physical Conditions of the English 
Channel during 1899. 
TuE proposed investigations have been carried out at quarterly intervals 
during the year by Mr. Garstang, who was enabled by means of the grant 
to hire a steam tug for the work during February, May, and the first week 
of September. Except for a few small items for temporary apparatus at 
sea, the whole of the expended grant (95/.) has been devoted to the hire of 
a suitable steamboat for the periodic survey. A small balance (5/.) 
remains, but as two further cruises will be necessary to complete the 
investigation, the Committee desires its reappointment with a grant of 
501. fin, addition to the unexpended balance). 
The observations of temperature and salinity and the collections of 
plankton obtained will furnish data for a complete year’s record of the 
periodic changes in the physical character of the water and in the quantity 
and character of the floating fauna and flora in the mouth of the English 
Channel—a standard record which will be of the highest value in many 
branches of marine biological and hydrographical inquiry. 
Most of the apparatus used has been provided by the Marine Bio- 
logical Association, which has borne all the expenditure required for the 
more costly nets and gear. The Committee is also indebted to the Royal 
Society Grant Committee for the loan of armoured hose and an extra deep 
sea thermometer. 
The collections are deposited in the Plymouth laboratory of the 
Marine Biological Association, where the work of identification and 
quantitative determination will be carried out. 
