Second Annual Report of the 



Scientific 

 Investigations. 



Experiments 

 with other 



Insufficiency 

 of funds for 

 carrying on 

 investigations. 



Treasury 

 refused to give 

 special grant. 



Treasury 

 suggests 

 using surplus 

 Brand Fees. 



Board again 

 appeals for 

 funds. 



would be extremely valuable, as it would settle what is still a 

 vexed question, whether it is possible to obtain results by the 

 artificial cultivation of sea fish, at all comparable to those obtained 

 by the artificial propagation of salmon and trout. Professor 

 MTntosh is experimenting with eggs of other food fishes, and with 

 those of lobsters and sea-squids. Success with the latter might prove 

 of great importance, as there is nothing that forms a more attrac- 

 tive bait at certain seasons of the year than sea-squids and other 

 cephalopods. 



Finding that the money placed at the disposal of the Board 

 by Parliament was quite insufficient to meet the expenses of 

 scientific investigations, you were pleased to move the Treasury 

 for additional funds. Unfortunately, the Lords of the Treasury, 

 failing to appreciate the importance of the scientific work of the 

 Board, refused your request, and in a letter, dated the 10th 

 December 1883, stated i that no expense must be incurred for this 

 ' service during the current year which cannot be met out of this 

 1 year's vote for the Fishery Board as taken last session, for my 

 ' Lords are not prepared to present any supplementary estimate 

 ' for the Board.' Notwithstanding this decision, the Board ventured 

 to make another appeal on the 21st of December, not only request- 

 ing that £300 required to meet the expenditure incurred during 

 the autumn be voted, but also that funds be provided to enable 

 the inquiry to be continued during the present year. To this 

 their Lordships replied, that they were ' not prepared to present 

 ' any supplementary estimate this year for the Board, as stated in 

 ' the letter from this department of 10th ult., or to add to the 

 ' estimate already sanctioned for next year,' 



While these negotiations were going on the Board received the 

 usual printed circular asking if any supplementary vote was 

 required for the service of the Board, to which in the peculiar cir- 

 cumstances a negative reply was sent. The reason for doing this 

 was that the Treasury had twice refused to place on the estimates 

 any additional sum for the expenses of scientific investigations, 

 and also because these expenses were still forming a subject of 

 correspondence with the Treasury. 



It may further be mentioned, that in a Treasury letter dated 18th 

 January 1884, it was stated that unless this Board ' could suggest 

 ' the diversion of a portion of the herring brand surplus to meet 

 * these expenses . . . the investigations should at once be suspended/ 

 To this suggestion the Board, in a letter dated 19th February 1884, 

 reluctantly acquiesced, in order to be in a position to meet the 

 expenses already incurred, and to prevent the investigations being 

 abruptly stopped; but at the same time the Board ventured to 

 express a hope that the Treasury might be able to reconsider their 

 decision. In this letter it was stated that ' in the interests of the 

 ' public the Board would regret extremely if the prosecution of 

 ' these investigations is suspended, for it is now recognised by the 

 { fishermen and all others concerned that the scientific work which 

 ' the Board has undertaken is the most important that it can in the 

 ' meantime prosecute. It is certain that any interruption of the 

 ' inquiries begun will create great public dissatisfaction ;' and it was 

 also pointed out ' that if the Fishery Board is worth maintaining 



