.. 
; 
SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 83 
and experts in the different sciences involved is obviously the 
best centre, although much of the practical work must neces- 
sarily be done at sea or on the shore. 
A Government Central Research Department or Council 
would perform a useful function in referring problems from the 
Administrative Authorities to University laboratories, and by 
assigning grants to the Universities and Biological Stations 
undertaking such research work. The Central Council might 
also undertake the publication of all the results of the fisheries 
researches in a uniform manner issuing the separate papers as 
soon as they are ready (as is done by the United States Bureau 
of Fisheries), and then subsequently in an Annual Volume. 
Whether all Fisheries research, Category (1) as well as (2), 
should be placed under the control of a Central Research 
Council is a very difficult question. The removal from Adminis- 
trators of all opportunities for making investigations bearing 
on their own regulations might be prejudicial to good 
administration; and, as is stated above, certain researches 
gain much by the close co-operation of the scientific worker 
with the administrative staff and the fishermen. 
Purely industrial research seems to be adequately provided 
for by the Privy Council Committee’s Scheme for ‘* Research 
Associations”’ under the Department of Scientific and 
Industrial Research. 
This is the last Report that I shall have the honour of 
submitting to the Committee as Professor of Zoology; but 
that does not mean that any change—save happily for the 
better—need be made in the direction or the conduct of the 
scientific work. The recent establishment of a Professorship 
and Department of Oceanography in the University of 
Liverpool is intended to consolidate and perpetuate the local 
marine biological and other oceanographic investigations and 
