OCEANOGRAPHY, BIONOMICS, AND AQUICULTURE. 453 



in what stage it is injurious to man, and whether, as is supposed, steep- 

 ing in pure water with or without the addition of carbonate of soda 

 will render poisonous mussels fit for food. 



During this last year there has been an outcry, almost amounting to 

 a scare, and seriously affecting the market, 1 as to the supposed connec- 

 tion between oysters taken from contaminated water and typhoid fever. 

 This, like the musselling, is clearly a case for scientific investigation, 

 and, with my colleague, Professor Boyce, I have commenced a series 

 of experiments and observations, partly at the Port Erin Biological 

 Station, where Are have oysters laid down on different parts of the 

 shore under very different conditions, as well as in dishes and tanks, 

 and partly at University College, Liverpool. 



Our object is to determine the effect of various conditions of water 

 and bottom upon the life and health of the oyster, the effect of the 

 addition of various impurities to the water, the conditions under which 

 the oyster becomes infected with the typhoid bacillus, and the result- 

 ing effect upon the oyster, the period during which the oyster remains 

 infectious, and, lastly, whether any simple practicable measures can be 

 taken (1) to determine whether an oyster is infected with typhoid, and 

 (2) to render such an oyster innocuous to man. As Professor Boyce 

 and I propose to lay a paper upon this subject before the section, I 

 shall not occupy further time now by a statement of our methods and 

 results. 



lhave probably already sufficiently indicated to you the extent and 

 importance of the applications of our science to practical questions con- 

 nected with our fishing industries. But if the zoologist has great 

 opportunities for usefulness, he ought always to bear in mind that he 

 has also grave responsibilities in connection with fisheries investiga- 

 tions. Much depends upon the results of his work. Private enter- 

 prise, public opinion, local regulations, and even imperial legislation, 

 may all be affected by his decisions. He ought not lightly to come to 

 conclusions upon weighty matters. I am convinced that of all the 

 varied lines of research in modern zoology, none contains problems 

 more interesting and intricate than those of bionomics, oceanography, 

 and the fisheries, and of these three series the problems connected with 

 our fisheries are certainly not the least interesting, not the least intri- 

 cate, and not the least important in their bearing upon the welfare of 

 mankind. 



1 1 am told that between December and March the oyster trade decreased 75 per 

 cent. 



