32 JOURNAL OF MARINE ZOOLOGY AND MICROSCOPY. 



to resume the entire charge of all conservation work. With the 

 extra time which I shall be able to devote to this in future, I can 

 confidently promise that all material sent out from this date will be 

 as nearly perfect as it is possible to attain. In this connection, I 

 may mention that I have been experimenting largely for the last 

 six months, with Formalin as a preservative medium, and I shall 

 take an opportunity in the next issue of this Journal, to detail fully 

 my methods and the chief results obtained, in the hope of thus 

 helping workers at other Biological Stations. 



I greatly regret one circumstance in the year's work, namely, 

 the delay in the issue of the present number. I trust, however, 

 that the friends of my work will bear with me patiently, and 

 remember that in this enterprise I am engaged single-handed, and 

 that the entire labour of the sketching out and final drawing of the 

 plates, together with that of the articles connected therewith, falls 

 upon my shoulders solely. In conjunction with the responsibility 

 and time taken up in the busy summer in the active direction of the 

 Station, such work has been almost too great for me and at times 

 I have been tempted to regret the inception of the enterprise. 

 However, I shall struggle on, in the hope of being able to recover 

 lost ground, now that the long evenings of winter are coming to my 

 aid. My friends must bear in mind that these literary labours are 

 of themselves absolutely unremunerative, and that I can only afford 

 to continue them by stealing the necessary time from hours which 

 by right should be devoted to relaxation. Those whose sympathy 

 is not wide enough to influence them to extend their patience 

 towards me, must perforce cease subscribing. I esteem my sub- 

 scribers my friends, and if they are not my friends, I would prefer 

 that they should not be subscribers. 



Fishery Work. — Under Mr. Sinel's fostering care, the Oyster- 

 parks recently constructed at Green Island (S.E. coast of Jersey) are 

 now in a flourishing condition. Phenomenal growth has taken 

 place — " seed-oysters " of 1 to 1| centimetres in diameter, laid down 

 on June 1st, have now (Sept. 30) attained a diameter of 3| to 4, and 

 even 4J centimetres. The increase in weight is proportionate, as 

 5-lbs. of " seed " has in the same time increased to 18-lbs. — fully 

 demonstrating the forecaste made of the suitability of the Jersey 

 littoral for the remunerative rearing of this mollusc. Further 

 ground is being taken in to form other parks, and the success of 

 this new undertaking is assured. 



Besides this practical outcome, the Station's influence is being 

 felt generally in the more living local interest that is springing up 

 in general fishery matters, and I hope to have further direct progress 

 to report shortly. 



