140 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



But, incredible as it may seem, England has no vessel 

 at all, large or small, devoted to the purpose of such 

 investigations. How long will this absurd condition of 

 affairs be allowed to continue in this rich country, with 

 its boasted advanced position, enlightened views and keen 

 eye to practical applications ? Not only other civilised 

 countries but even some of our own colonies are far in 

 advance of us in the public utilisation of Marine Biolo- 

 gical investigations. 



Norwa}^ is a poor country, but, in some directions at 

 least, an enlightened one. Here is the latest item of 

 news in regard to her fisheries investigations : — " The 

 Norwegian Government has built and fitted out a steam 

 vessel for the express purpose of marine scientific 

 research, and has placed her, as well as a trained staff of 

 assistants, in charge of Dr. Johan Hjort as leader of the 

 Norwegian Fishery and Marine Investigations. The 

 vessel herself, the >k Michael Sars,'' has been constructed 

 in Norway on the lines of an English steam trawler — that 

 type of boat being regarded as the most seaworthy and 

 suitable for such an expedition — but considerably larger, 

 being 132 feet in length, 23 feet beam, and fitted with 

 triple-expansion engines of 300 horse-power. The fishing 

 gear includes inter alia, trawls, nets, and lines of all kinds, 

 with massive steel hawsers and powerful steam winches 

 to work the heavy apparatus ; while the numerous 

 scientific instruments are of the very best and latest 

 description. The expedition left Christiania in the 

 middle of July on what may be termed its trial trip along 

 the Norwegian coast (accompanied for part of the time 

 by Dr. Nansen, who was desirous of testing various 

 instruments in which he had made improvements), 

 and has just sailed from Tromso on a lengthy cruise to 

 the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Dr. Hjort has 



