72 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



millions set free from the Port Erin Hatchery when 

 considering the Irish Sea as a whole. Care is taken in 

 the distribution from both hatcheries to return the fry 

 to the sea in suitable localities, such as are frequented 

 by the naturally produced fish of the same age. I desire 

 to point out, however, that these numbers must be 

 regarded as small, though it is difficult to see how, with 

 our present accommodation and organisation, they could 

 be substantially increased. 



Mr. Scott also gives particulars of the practical 

 classes in Marine Biology and in Navigation for fisher- 

 men, and in Nature Study for school teachers, held in 

 the Piel Laboratory by Mr. Johnstone and himself 

 during Spring and early Summer. 



Dr. Bassett, who for several years has kindly under- 

 taken the examination of the samples of sea-water 

 obtained in our hydrographic cruises, has now been 

 appointed Professor of Chemistry in University College, 

 Reading, but I am glad to say that he still continues to 

 carry on our work, and his report on the results obtained 

 during 1911 will be found printed below. 



A great series of valuable statistics in regard to the 

 measurements of plaice, caught in the course of the 

 routine trawling experiments carried out by Captain 

 Wignall and the other Fishery Officers of the district, 

 is now being accumulated. An instalment of these, 

 bringing the matter up to date, is given by Mr. 

 Johnstone, but no general discussion of these data will 

 be attempted until a sufficient series has been accumu- 

 lated to render the conclusions independent of annual 

 variations. Mr. Johnstone, however, makes use of some 

 of these statistics as the ba"sis for a short note on the 

 formula dealing with the relation of length to weight in 

 the plaice. This will be found at page 86, 



