sea-fisheries laboratory. 187 



Technical Instruction in Sea-Fisheries Sciexvce. 



(A Memoraiidum prepared for the use of the Committee). 



By W. A. Herdman. 



At a Meeting of the Scientific Snb- Committee, held at 

 Preston on November 18th, 1902, I was requested to draw 

 up for circulation a statement as to the educational use 

 that has been made of the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries 

 Laboratory and Hatchery at Piel, and as to any further 

 developments that are desirable in teaching the applica- 

 tion of science to fishery problems either to fishermen or 

 to others. 



I think it well to distinguish between three classes to 

 whom instruction may be given, viz.: — (A) fishermen, 

 (B) technical students, and (C) the general public. 



A. — Practical Classes for Fishermen. 



We have found in Lancashire that lectures alone, even 

 if well illustrated by lantern slides and accompanied by 

 the exhibition of specimens and of objects seen through 

 the microscope, produced very little effect upon the 

 average fisherman. It was not until, after trying various 

 forms of lectures and demonstrations, we started actual 

 laboratory work for fishermen at Liverpool three years 

 ago (February, 1900), that the results proved satisfactory. 

 After a few days actual practical work with their own 

 hands the men became keen and enthusiastic, they 

 welcomed the new information, trusted their microscopes 

 and believed what they saw ; they thoroughly appreciated 

 the importance of what they found out, and were evidently 

 anxious for further information. 



During the last three years seven practical classes have 



