2 PROCEEDINGS. 



illustrated with coloured drawings of two varieties of that species. (/See 

 Transactions.^ 



During the conversation that ensued, it was stated that the Mackerel was 

 a much more valuable fish than the herring for commercial purposes. They 

 did not taint so quick when in bulk. The present method of salting was 

 described by Capt. W. T. Townsend. It appeared to differ from that form- 

 erly practised, the fish being now packed with the back upwards^ which 

 prevented the saline sediment sinking into the flesh. A different species or 

 variety of Scomber, which came upon the coast about eighteen years ago, none 

 of which had been seen of late years, was alluded to. The upper jaw at the 

 point was curved over the lower, and the fish was much larger and fatter than 

 those now taken. Formerly in the spring the mackerel were all small, and in 

 autumn all large, now they always varied in size at all seasons, large and 

 small ran together. 



With reference to the mackerel hybernating in shore mud during winter, 

 the President mentioned a curious circumstance which had come to his 

 knowledge, where a fisherman of Prospect Harbour, had taken one of these 

 fish while eel-spearing through the ice of the harbour, the eyes of which were 

 covered with a thick film. He considered that the supply of the fish on our 

 shores depended very much on that of their particular food, which, if not 

 abundant in the localities generally visited by them, would be sought for and 

 found in other places, causing failure to the fisheries in some parts, while 

 unprecedented luck would be had in others. 



Capt. Townsend also stated that the mackerel appeared very regularly 

 on the Atlantic coast, nearly to a day, viz. on the 26th May. They were 

 frequent around the Magdalen Islands all summer, and were found further 

 north, even as far as the north-west coast of Newfoundland, but they had not 

 been seen on the east coast for twenty-one years. 



The President read a paper — " On the Geological Features of the Ber- 

 mudas." — (See Transactions.') 



In the discussion which ensued, the probability of those Islands having been 

 once connected with the mainland, was mentioned by a member. 



Extraordinary Meeting, Nov. 16, 1865. 



The members met pursuant to notice, in the room at the Province Building, 

 and proceeded to Government House to wait upon His Excellency Sir F. W. 

 Williams, Bart., (of Kars,) the Lieut. Governor, who had graciously assented 

 to the request of the Council of the Institute that he would become its Patron, 

 vice Sir R. G. Mac Donnell, the late Governor. 



On being received by His Excellency, the President stated that owing 

 to a rule of the Bye-Laws, all Lieut. Governors of the Province were to be 

 requested to become Patrons of the Institute during their tenure of office, and 

 that the Society would gladly enrol His Excellency's name In the place of his 

 predecessor, expressing a hope that His Excellency would give his coun- 

 tenance and encouragement to their proceedings for the advancement of 

 science and the benefit of the country. 



