ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1 897. 5 



The Societies which constitute the Union are now thirty-six 

 in number, the same fig'ure as last year. The Ovenden 

 Naturalists' Society, which was one of the oldest in the Union, 

 has ceased to exist, but this loss is counterbalanced by the 

 accession of another Societ}^ in the same district, the West Vale 

 Naturalists' Societ}'. 



The Statistics which the Secretaries of the different Societies 

 have again been kind enoug^h to furnish, show a further slight 

 decrease in the number of associates, the aggregate membership 

 of the thirty-six Societies now amounting to 2,383, a decrease 

 of 66. Adding to this the number of direct members, the total 

 numerical strength of the Union is 2,814. 



The Membership of the Union now stands at 431, being 24 

 Life Memxbers, 4 Honorary Life Members, and 403 Ordinary 

 Members, a decrease of 26 members from last year. 



During the year 38 new members have been elected, while 

 on the other hand a few members have died or resigned, and a 

 considerable number have been struck off the Rolls for non- 

 pa3^ment of arrears of Subscriptions. 



The Death-roil has included a number of prominent 

 members of the Union. In the late Bishop of Wakefield the 

 Union has lost one of its most valued Ex-Presidents, while the 

 Boulder Committee has been deprived of the services of a most 

 efficient Hon. Secretary by the unexpectedly sudden death of 

 Mr. Thomas Tate, F.G.S. The decease of Mr. J. W. Dunning, 

 M.A., F.L.S., deprives the Union of one of its most munificent 

 friends, v\^hile the death of the Rev. Charles Crawshaw, of 

 Saltburn, rem^oves one of the small band of students of marine 

 moUusca. Other losses by death have been Mr. T. A. Bradley, of 

 Dewsbur}', Mr. Thomas Saltonstall, of Sowerby, and Councillor 

 F. Crosland, of Huddersfield. 



The Financial Position of the Union is practically the 

 same as it was last year. The following is the Hon. Treasurer's 

 Statement of Receipts and Payments during the year : — 



