MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 63 
seriously told by a fisherman, who complained that the herring had disap 
peared from a portion of the coast, that we should find the reason for its 
disappearance in—I think it is the third verse of the fourth chapter of Hosea. 
(Laughter). I thought that man at any rate, in an age of doubt, had the 
capacity of belief. (Renewed laughter). But there is no subject to which I 
could better draw your practical attention than to expound to us the reasons 
for the migration of the herring, and to point out to the fishermen the con- 
ditions, whether of temperature, of weather, or of food with which they should 
be acquainted, and which should direct them where to go to reap that great 
harvest of the sea, which, depend upon it, is supplied us as bountifully now 
as ever. In directing this subject to your notice, I feel that I am leaving it 
in worthy hands, and that the researches that Professor Herdman and you 
have made in the past, afford confident assurance of what you may do in the 
future. (Applause). In coupling this toast with Professor Herdman’s name, I 
hope you will allow me to congratulate him upon the notice which I read in 
the Times of yesterday, that the Royal Society has admitted him into that 
charmed circle which has so many attractions for men of science. (Loud 
applause). Without more words, for trains wait for no man, after a certain 
time, even in the Isle of Man (laughter) I give you the “‘ Liverpool Marine 
Biology Committee,” coupled with the names of Professor Herdman, and 
Mr. Thompson. 
Professor Herdman, in reply to the toast, said: Your Excellency, my Lord 
Bishop, and Gentlemen,—As Chairman of the Liverpool Marine Biology 
Committee, whose success and continued prosperity you have so kindly 
toasted, I beg to thank your Excellency, and you all, gentlemen, for your 
kind words and your good wishes, and to tell you how grateful we are, as a 
Committee, for the honour you have done us, and for this inspiriting encourage- 
ment, and how we hope by our work in the future, to show that we have 
profited by your support to-day, and have been stirred up to fresh efforts by 
your appreciation of our work in the past (applause). 
It is now just seven years since this committee was established. It origi- 
nated in a meeting in March, 1885, held in University College, Liverpool, at 
which were present the representatives of the colleges, museums, and scientific 
societies of several neighbouring towns. I pointed out on that occasion how 
much good work might be done by a number of specialists working together 
at marine biology, and laid before the meeting the proposai that we should 
form ourselves into a committee for the purpose of investigating thoroughly 
the fauna and flora of the neighbouring seas. As the sea shores in the neigh- 
bourhood of Liverpool are unfortunately not so prolific of life and interesting 
to the naturalist, as your beautiful coast here, most of our work during the 
past six years, has had to be done from steamboats on dredging expeditions. 
Fortunately, we have had the sympathy and welcome support of some of the 
