of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



889 



devoted to a description of the halibut fishings, arid nearly 300 pages to 

 the whale fishery. There ean be little doubt that these volumes constitute 

 the most elaborate account of lisheries which have ever been published. 



FRANCE. 



In France there is a comparatively large number of marine labora- 

 tories where researches in connection with fisheries are carried on, and 

 they are largely subsidized by the State. 



Concarneau. — We are indebted to Professor Pouchet for most of our 

 information in regard to the well-known laboratory at Concarneau, of 

 which he is director, the pioneer of so many other similar institutions. 

 This laboratory took origin in 1857 from the labours of Coste, the 

 distinguished Professor of Comparative Embryology in the College of 

 France. The work carried on was at first purely that of scientific 

 inquiries, but Coste soon applied himself to establish what he termed a 

 zoological observatory, where scientific observations might be conjoined 

 with practical work on the artificial culture and rearing of economic species, 

 which formed his dominant study. The persistence and eminent scientific 

 authority of Coste ultimately induced the Government to grant the means 

 necessary to erect a large, thoroughly equipped building for the work, and 

 this forms the laboratory at the present day. After Coste's death the 

 laboratory remained for some time without a scientific director, and was 

 left to the commercial exploitation of a keeper, but in 1881 Professor Robin 

 associated himself with Professor Pouchet in the endeavour to restore the 

 laboratory to its former position as a place of scientific research. Since 

 that period' the laboratory has been in regular operation, under the 

 energetic direction of Professors Robin and Pouchet, and the scientific 

 operations have been simply but completely established in accordance 

 with the requirements of modern science. An assistant resident director 

 was also appointed. 



The laboratory at Concarneau consists of a large granite building, 

 situated on the shore at the level of the tides. On the land side is a 

 garden leading to the first floor towards the sea. There are 8 extensive 

 tanks of granite, having a total superficies of about 500 square metres, 

 communicating with the sea by sluices. The first floor, which is entirely 

 devoted to scientific work, is divided into 7 compartments or cabinets for 

 research, each capable of accommodating two workers, and also includes a 

 large room for experiments, a library and a workshop. The latter con- 

 tains a gas-engine to furnish the motive power necessary for the work, 

 and for the circulation of the water supplying the aquaria, when the wind 

 fails ; for the latter task is usually accomplished by means of a windmill 

 placed on the roof and acting on a pump. On a level with the ground- 

 lioor, at the side of the sea, are placed the aquaria supplied by 3 large 

 reservoirs, and comprise 60 tanks or basins, the forge and the photo- 

 graphic room. Four of the outside tanks are set apart for the use of the 

 laboratory, the other 4 having been granted by the Government to the 

 previous keeper of the laboratory, who utilises them in keeping turbot, 

 lobsters and cray-fish in them. 



For the past ten years the State has placed at the service of the 

 laboratory a steam vessel and a whaling boat manned by a crew of 6 

 sailors, thus allowing scientific excursions to be made, — dredgings, to the 

 depth of from 100 to 150 fathoms, and tow-netting being regularly carried 

 on. By these means naturalists have been enabled to study the fauna 

 of the Bay of Concarneau. 



An old dismantled fort on one of the Glenan Islands is annexed to 



