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says six-year-old examples, some weighing as much, as seven 

 pounds, were found in the Howietoun Ponds in 1882, and since 

 then they have been captured up to ten pounds in weight. Let 

 us wish, in the language of the angler, that the fish may have 

 luck, or, if caught, that they may be returned to the river, and 

 that they may be spared until the autumn, so that they may 

 spawn and improve the size of the fish in the Coquet. 



In March, 1887, Mr. C. B. P. Bosanquet, of Rock Hall, Aln- 

 wick, caused to be placed in his pond a number of the same 

 species of fish as was used by Messrs. Hardy. A month ago 

 some of these fish were caught, and were found to weigh from 

 eight to twelve ounces, certainly a very satisfactory increase in 

 size. 



Last year I had the pleasure to append to my address a valu- 

 able contribution by Professor J. Batalha Beis, who, at the 

 conclusion of his paper, suggested a matter well deserving the 

 attention of all local naturalists. Signor Beis recommended 

 the formation of a good Library of Natural Sciences, and in a 

 letter which I recently received from Professor Oliver, of Kew, 

 he says, "It would be a great encouragement to young workers 

 if a small collection of selected hand-books for the simple deter- 

 mination of species were accessible on easy conditions, and you 

 could readily secure a list of such works recommended by com- 

 petent naturalists as the best for beginners in their respective 

 fields. I should not aim too high at first. Illustrated books 

 are necessarily expensive, and might be gradually increased at 

 the Literary and Philosophical Society." Professor Oliver then 

 gives me a note of a few books of the kind applying to the 

 vegetable kingdom. If such special hand-books were added to 

 the already extensive Library of Natural Sciences possessed by 

 the Literary and Philosophical Society, the difficulty would in a 

 great measure be overcome, because that Society has recently 

 resolved upon a rule which will enable many young people to 

 participate in the benefits of membership on very easy conditions. 

 Orders have been given by our local legislature for attaching 

 the names, both common and scientific, to the trees, shrubs, and 

 plants in our parks, and I expect this will include Jesmond 



