20 Anniversary Address. 



levied without abatement, and forfeiture of the fish to be 

 distributed among the poor." 



The fishery now known by the name of North Bells on the 

 Tweed, was evidently a place of disputed or rather un- 

 certain ownership. But in February 1656 the Town took 

 it up and offered protection against lawsuits, to any who 

 would lease it. It was let for that year to Geo. Orde, 

 burgess, for the sum of £68. This same gentleman leased 

 the fishing called the Bailiffs' Batt in 1660 for £48 for the 

 year, while a Mr Henry Shelle rented the North Bells, at 

 the increased rent of £157 for the same year. I may 

 mention that the North Bells fishing is now let at £70 and 

 the Bailiffs' Batt at £305. 



There are a great many other subjects of interest referred 

 to in the book from which I have been quoting, but the few 

 extracts I have read show, I think, that as I said before there 

 is room for another work on this old town. 



Again thanking you for the honour you conferred upon 

 me when you appointed me President I now resign that 

 office into your hands, and have great pleasure in nomina- 

 ting, as my successor, Mr Watson Askew- Robertson of 

 Pallinsburn and Ladykirk, than whom there is none fitter 

 to do honour to the post. 



Note. — Since this Address was delivered the following has appeai-ed in 

 Britten's Journal of Botany, December 1890, vol. xxviii., p. 381-2, 

 (London, West, Newman & Co., 54 Hatton Gardens, E.G.) "Mr Batters 

 is to be congratulated on the publication of his admirable list. The 

 performance is practically his own from beginning to end, since as a 

 foundation he had merely the meagre enumeration of the sea-weeds 

 of this district made thirty-five years ago by Dr Johnston. There is 

 probably no other locality in Britain so rich in species as the coast at 

 Berwick-on-Tweed, and when it is stated that the exploration of it has 

 been accomplished by Mr Batters almost, if not, single-handed, the student 

 of phycology will know the extent of labour and research involved. To do 

 this thoroughly, Mr Batters has visited Berwick at all seasons, and has 

 made particular note of those minute forms — microscopic forms as they 

 are called — so commonly overlooked. This examination has led to the 

 discovery of forms new to science, as well as to Britain, among which may 

 be mentioned here the generic form of Battersia of Reinke. There was 

 another diQiculty in performing this task. Since the publication of 



