MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 



9,1 



" The number of visitors to the Aquarium during 

 the year — 13,200 — shows a slight but gratifying increase 

 compared with last year. No exceptionally large 

 attendances on single days were recorded, but the daily 

 average attendance improved substantially towards the 

 end of the season. The number of copies of the ' Guide 

 to the Aquarium ' sold — over TOO — again shows a con- 

 siderable increase, and bears testimony to the well- 

 sustained interest of the more intelligent visitors. A 

 new edition will be required during the coming year, and 

 is now in preparation. 



" Visits have been paid to the Station by the Douglas 

 Progressive Debating Society and the Douglas Sunday 

 School Teachers' Association, in addition to seven visits 

 of parties of boys and girls from local and other insular 

 elementary schools. The Curator was present on all 

 occasions, and generally gave a short illustrated lecture 

 in addition to an explanation of the contents of the tanks. 

 The Station was visited in July last by MM. Docteur 

 Armand Geoffrey, Medeciu de la Marine, and Robert 

 Cayrol, Enseigne de Vaisseau, Boulogne-sur-Mer ; and 

 in September by Professor E. W. MacBride, F.R.S. On 

 September 14th a meeting of the Isle of Man Natural 

 History and Antiquarian Society took place at the 

 Biological Station. The chair was occupied by the 

 Deemster Callow, Chairman of the Fishery Hoard, and 

 an address was given by Professor Herdinan on ' Science 

 in relation to the prosperity of nations, and the need of 

 a more wide-spread education in the methods of science.' 

 " Owing to the comparatively small Dumber of adult 

 plaice in the spawning pond during the hatching season, 

 the number of fry set free in the neighbouring seas was 

 considerably less than that of lasl year. Favoured by 

 the comparative absence of boisterous winds, the pond 



