MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 97 



own absorbing interest — and though thoroughly alive to 

 the importance of these general questions, they have 

 rarely time or opportunity for sufficiently extended or 

 continuous observations. 



In this, as in other departments of work, we hope for 

 much help from our new Curator. Kegularity of inves- 

 tigation, observation, and record, and the accumulation of 

 statistics as to modes of occurrence will soon give us a 

 body of evidence from which to draw definite conclusions. 



The Aquarium. 



Over 350 persons paid for admission to the Aquarium 

 during last summer. The Committee do not consider 

 this a large number. The result of several years' exper- 

 ience is that when naturalists are at the Station — 

 especially responsible members of the Committee — it 

 is easy to attract numbers to a demonstration in the 

 Aquarium. The visitors are interested and anxious to 

 learn when there is anyone to show them what and how 

 to observe, and to explain wherein the importance of the 

 observation lies. In the absence of a scientific zoologist, 

 the Aquarium has languished. Our new Curator will 

 meet this want. He proposes to fill the shelves with 

 collections of local animals, to re-stock the tanks, and 

 vessels, to lay out some microscopic preparations, and 

 otherwise to make that part of the institution open to the 

 public more attractive and more efficient. 



The Boat. 



The " Shellbend " folding dinghy, the acquisition of 

 which was recorded in our last Eeport, has proved a very 

 serviceable boat, and keeps in excellent condition. She 

 holds three comfortably for tow-netting work about the 

 bay, can be expanded for use or folded up again by one 



