396 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 



( Reports of the Great Barrier Reef Committee, Australia, Vols. I and II.) The Australian 

 Committee, ' reaUsing the necessity for the carrying out of marine biological work and 

 finding it impracticable to have the work carried out by Austrahan biologists,' having 

 invited the Association to undertake this side of research, all plans have been laid in 

 this connection. Obviously, they have been largely influenced by the organisms found 

 in the Australian boring, which reached 600 feet. 



The work of the Expedition consists of direct research on the growth, feeding 

 and reproduction of organisms around the camping island, to a large degree the sea 

 forming a substitute for laboratory tanks. In addition, there are to be weekly or 

 fortnightly examinations of the chemical constituents of the sea water, in particular 

 those which concern animal and plant life. Furthermore, the study of the animals 

 and plants of the surface waters, their numbers at different seasons, is to be under- 

 taken. The oecological aspects of the different reefs are to be examined and the 

 animals and plants to be collected ; this entails collecting on difierent reefs under 

 diverse conditions. Furthermore, dredging and other studies in passages, in lagoons 

 and outside the reef are to be made, as far as weather will permit, so that a proper 

 idea may be obtained of the oecology of the organisms of the bottom in each part. 

 In respect to this work, the reproduction of the organisms and their migrations have 

 to be studied. Pearl shell, sponges and various other forms have to be kept under 

 observation. While certain parts of this work of a systematic nature will be done 

 after the return to England, all experimental work, physiological or other, must be 

 carried on on the spot. 



A camp has been erected for the Expedition on the Low Islands, near Cairns. 

 Arrangements have been made to attach to it two launches. Obviously the naturalists 

 in charge of the regular observations have to remain in the Cairns region. The 

 director, acting in conjunction with Prof. Richards, has power to visit or send members 

 of his stafi to other parts of the Reef and to undertake such other work as he deems 

 desirable. The Expedition will evacuate the camp at the end of July 1929. 



The collections obtained will be worked out, so far as deemed necessary, from 

 the systematic and morphological side, as arranged by the director in association with 

 the Committee, except those of the bottom living plants of all sorts, which will be 

 undertaken by the Natural History Museum. The first set of all named specimens 

 of all groups of animals and plants is to be deposited in the Natural History Museum. 

 The second set to be offered to the Great Barrier Reef Committee of Australia to be 

 deposited wherever they may deem fit. All questions of economic nature are to be 

 as fully as possible reported on ad interim and discussed with the appropriate 

 authorities in Australia before the Expedition returns to England. 



The Committee asks for reappointment with a grant of £200. 



