104 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



microscopes, microtomes and other laboratory apparatus 

 are available, where there are biological libraries to 

 consult, and where there are other scientific workers to 

 lend their help. The Biological Station at Port Erin 

 affords facilities for practical work on the shore and for 

 observations and experiments on the reproduction and 

 rearing of young marine animals in tanks. Such observa- 

 tions will prepare the way for the proposed Sea-Fish 

 Hatchery for which Port Erin seems pre-eminently fitted. 

 The trawling observations, the examination of the spawning 

 and feeding grounds, and the collection of statistics can 

 only be carried out by the steamer at sea, under the 

 direction of Mr. Dawson, as has been done in the past. 

 Finally, the little laboratory now being fitted up at Piel 

 Island will enable us to examine more systematically the 

 great shell-fish beds of the northern district and to deal 

 with fresh material brought in from that neighbourhood 

 before it is preserved and sent on to the central laboratory 

 at Liverpool. 



Section I. of the following report, dealing with the 

 foods of fishes, found by an investigation of the stomach 

 contents, is in continuation of the work of previous years, 

 and has been drawn up by Mr. Scott. 



Section II., on the investigation of the tidal and other 

 currents, which might affect the distribution of floating 

 fish eggs and fish food, by means of " drift bottles," is a 

 further account of the observations commenced last year 

 and already discussed in a preliminary manner in the 

 Ninth Annual Eeport of the Port Erin Biological Station. 

 The results are now given more fully, and certain practical 

 conclusions are drawn from them. I am myself responsible 

 for this section. 



A new line of enquiry has been commenced this year 

 by sending Mr. Scott to examine some of the shell-fish 



