92 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



INTRODUCTION. 



As in the case of last year's Report, Dr. Johnstone 

 and Mr„ Riddell deal with various sections of their work 

 under the Scheme of Fishery investigation sanctioned by 

 the Development Commission and the Board of Agricul- 

 ture and Fisheries. The remaining articles in this Report 

 deal with cognate matters which seem to be worthy of 

 exposition and record, such as fish-hatching, plankton 

 investigation, the diseases of fish, the nutrition of marine 

 animals, and the condition of mussel beds in relation to 

 sewage. 



Scheme of Fisheries Investigation. 



It is understood that the Development Commissioners 

 are at present considering the details of a comprehensive 

 scheme for fisheries investigation throughout British Seas 

 which has been drawn up by the three Government 

 Departments concerned. Until, however, this scheme has 

 been approved, the system of interim grants from the 

 Development Fund has been continued, and our scientific 

 work is being carried on for another year on the same 

 lines as in previous years, and with the same grant-in-aid. 

 It is hoped that when a more permanent scheme is adopted 

 by the Development Commission, provision will be made 

 to meet an increased expenditure on the necessary investi- 

 gations in the Irish Sea Fisheries area. 



On Scientific grounds the proposal for an amalgama- 

 tion of the investigations in the Cumberland and 

 the Lancashire districts is a sound one which ought 

 to be encouraged by the Authorities concerned. It means 

 practically an extension of the Lancashire scheme of 

 operations into Cumberland waters — an object highly 

 desirable in itself, beneficial both to Cumberland and 



