ON STEAM NAVIGATION AT HULL. 119 



of this number, about one-half are found living on the coast, the other half 

 belong to extinct species. 



The existence of this bed of gravel with its fossils may hereafter serve to 

 throw some light on the question of the presence of so many northern forms 

 of shells on the Turbot Bank. As yet there is no evidence to forbid the con- 

 clusion that all such forms may be found alive in the sea not far distant. A 

 large proportion of those known to be living is found scattered very sparingly ; 

 whilst others, whose existence in the living state admits of no doubt, have not 

 yet been discovered in their haunts. Many species may be living close at 

 hand in situations where the rocky nature of the ground, and the strength of 

 the currents preclude the possibility of the dredge ever reaching them. 



One interesting fact may be noticed connected with the distribution of 

 animal life ; — that there are several species, viz. three Neaeras, two Astartes, 

 and some others, existing in the Clyde, immediately opposite the deep-sea 

 region north of the Maidens, where none of these species have been disco- 

 vered ; whilst in the latter locality, Argiope, Terebralula capxula, and Phola- 

 didea, with perhaps others, are found living and not known to exist in the 

 former locality. The region of the Clyde and that of the Maidens, though 

 separated by a narrow sea, exhibit well-marked and distinctive peculiarities 

 in their respective Faunas. 



The Committee consider that their labours, under the liberal assistance of 

 the British Association, have now come to a close, but much yet remains to be 

 done to complete the List; still they hope that individuals may be found 

 willing to continue the investigations, so as to carry out the wish expressed 

 by Dr. Perceval Wright in his Report for 1858, that the results of the labours 

 of the several dredging Committees may in a short time be united to form a 

 complete Irish Marine Fauna. 



Continuation of Report of the Progress of Steam Navigation at Hull. 

 By James Oldham, Esq., Hull, M.I.C.E. 



In continuation of my Report on the Progress of Steam Navigation as con- 

 nected with the Port of Hull, I have to observe that, during the last two 

 years, no very great change has taken place in the number of steamers, 

 although I shall have to state some interesting facts occurring during that 

 time. For generations past, Hull has been noted for its Greenland and 

 Davis Straits Fishery, and for many years this constituted the chief feature 

 of the port ; and at one time upwards of sixty large ships were sent out with 

 crews varying from thirty to forty men each, and representing a capital of all 

 that concerned the trade of about £700,000 sterling. In 1818 Hull sent out 

 to the fishery sixty-three ships which brought home 5817 tons of oil, and in 

 1820 sixty ships were sent out and returned with 7782 tons of oil, exclusive 

 of whalebone. In this year (1820) the total number of ships at the fisheries 

 from England and Scotland amounted to 156, and the entire weight of oil 

 obtained was 18,725 tons, and of whalebone 902 tons. 



Owing, however, to the introduction of coal-gas for the lighting of streets 

 and buildings, and large importations of oils for manufacturing purposes 

 from the Mediterranean and other places, together with the scarcity and dif- 

 ficulty of taking the whales, fish-oil became in a great measure superseded, 

 and consequently the fishery nearly abandoned, and an enormous amount of 

 property, once of so much value, almost entirely lost. Within the last two or 



