SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 81 
when a little more advanced to results of direct 
value to the administrator. 
(d) Plankton research in general, including cycles of 
production of ultimate food matters in the sea, and 
the bearing of plankton production upon the nutri- 
tion and the migrations of plankton-eating fishes. 
This again, starting as a purely academic research, 
might at any time lead to results of importance in 
administration. 
(e) Parasitology and Diseases of Fishes and other 
marine edible animals. In this the laboratory is 
sometimes brought into relation with the markets 
when fish condemned -by the Authorities are sent 
for investigation and report. 
These, again, are only some examples of the researches 
undertaken. Other subjects might, no doubt, be stated. 
It may be noted that practically the same methods that 
are necessary to give the results required for 1, a, b, c, will 
supply the material for the investigations under 2, b, c, d. 
After the material has been collected by the research vessels 
and used for the purposes of 1, a, b, c, the grant-aided labora- 
tories could take up the work and study the collections with 
their special objects in view. This tends to show that there is 
no real distinction in nature, but only one of convenience, 
between our two categories of research. 
All the investigations mentioned in Category (1) involve 
work at sea in research vessels or on the shore in association 
with fishermen or fishery officers with expert local knowledge. 
All the work done is in the closest possible relation with the 
actual fishing industries of the district, and with the adminis- 
trative stafis, both police and statistical. It is difficult to see 
how some, or even most, of it can be separated from this close 
