SEA-FISHEEIES LABORATORY. 71 



during her cruise. He saw 8 hauls made and examined 

 the fish, but no fertilised eggs could be secured. Most 

 of the fish were '" spent," and of those few species of 

 which ripe females were obtained no mature males were 

 forthcoming. Consequently no further experiments could 

 be tried at that time at Port Erin. This season the 

 endeavour should be made to obtain spawn a good deal 

 earlier — not later than the beginning of March — in order 

 to continue the observations at Port Erin and also to 

 start a similar series of experiments at the Piel laboratory 

 in the Barrow Channel. 



The Oyster Investigation. 



Since last year's report the work on Oysters under 

 various conditions, and their possible connection with 

 disease in man, has been carried on actively in the Uni- 

 versity College laboratories. As it was obvious that a 

 very important part of the investigation consisted in the 

 determination of the action and behaviour of the typhoid 

 organism (Bacillus typhosus) in sea- water and in the body 

 of the Oyster, a great part of the work has been carried 

 out by Professor Boyce in the Bacteriological laboratory. 

 We have also, in the Zoological department, had under 

 observation a number of oysters which after infection with 

 the typhoid organism were placed in a stream of con- 

 stantly running sea-water, in order to ascertain whether 

 pathogenic organisms can be satisfactorily removed by 

 washing — or rather by allowing the oyster the opportunity 

 of passing fresh water through its body. As a result of 

 these experiments, a report was drawn up which was 

 read by Professor Boyce, on September 23rd, before the 

 Physiological Section at the Liverpool Meeting of the 

 British Association. From that report I extract the 

 following tables and statements ; — 



