204 president's address. 



known Globigerinse, of the shells of which the deep-sea Grlobi- 

 gerina Ooze is chiefly made up, live at the bottom, or whether 

 they are all Pelagic, and the shells only dropi down to the bottom 

 after death. 



There can be no question that Grlobigerina Ooze and the deep- 

 sea deposits are, in their ultimate derivation, products of the de- 

 nudation of the earth's surface. 



It is but a slight step indeed from the foregoing remarks to 

 the subject of our Sea-Fisheries, which are at once such a fertile 

 source of food to man, and such an attractive field of labour to 

 the dwellers on our coasts. It is with no little satisfaction that 

 I can refer to the part the Tyneside Field-Club has taken in by- 

 gone years in reference to this at once very interesting and im- 

 portant subject. 



It is now more than twenty years since the subject of the then 

 condition and prospect of our Sea-Fisheries was first-debated at 

 an Evening Meeting of our Club. The information then drawn 

 forth was all that was really known at the time, and little enough 

 it was. Mr. Henry Fenwick, the then member for Sunderland, 

 availing himself of the knowledge then gathered together, 

 brought the subject before the House of Commons, and moved 

 successfully, for the appointment of a Eoyal Commission. Pro- 

 fessor Huxley, Mr. Caird, and Mr. Shaw-Lefevre were appointed 

 Commissioners. They commenced their enquiry at Cullercoats, 

 and afterwards proceeded to hold meetings at every fishing sta- 

 tion in Great Britain and Ireland. A most able and exhaustive 

 Report, together with all the evidence taken, was subsequently 

 published. This is the foundation on which all subsequent en- 

 quiry has been based, and from this the present deep and wide- 

 spread interest in our Fisheries has arisen ; culminating, as it is 

 now doing, in the great International Fishery Exhibition to be 

 opened to-morrow in London. 



Not only has there been a most plentiful supply of literary 

 effort bestowed on this not so long ago altogether neglected sub- 

 ject, but attention has been directed by eminent Naturalists to 

 the habits of Fish, and many most valuable additions to our 

 knowledge as to the mode of spawning and feeding have resulted 



