XXX 



Second Annual Report of the 



Scientific 

 Investigations 



Work Board 

 proposes to 

 prosecute. 



How Board 

 proposes 

 spending 

 £1000 asked 

 for. 



Special vote 

 should be 

 granted with- 

 out delay. 



Additional 

 grant for 

 Laboratories 



Sailing cruiser 

 should be 

 superseded by 

 a steam vessel. 



The principal lines of inquiry on which the Board proposes to 

 engage in future are the following : — 



1. The examination of all the spawning beds around the Scottish 

 coast, with, the view of increasing the fishing, more especially on 

 the west coast. 



2. The further collection of material for determining the nature 

 of the food of the useful fishes met with on the Scottish coast. 



3. The further investigation of the percentage of immature herring 

 and other food fishes destroyed under present methods of fishing. 



4. The investigation of the influence of sea-birds, parasites, &c, 

 on the supply of food fishes. 



5. The study of development, rate of growth, and general life 

 history of the herring and other economic fishes, and the further 

 study of the spawning process, and the nature of the eggs of fish. 



6. The determination of the best means of restocking deserted 

 fishing grounds by artificial cultivation or otherwise of herring, 

 cod, flat fish, &c. 



7. The determination of the practicability of increasing the 

 supply, by artificial means, of lobsters, mussels, oysters, and other 

 shell-fish. 



8. The inquiry as to the influence of fungi and other minute 

 organisms in destroying the life of useful fishes, and the conditions 

 which predispose to the attacks of these organisms. 



In order to prosecute these investigations, the Board estimates 

 that (in addition to the money already transferred from the surplus 

 Herring Brand Fund) at the very least the sum of £1000 will be 

 required during the year 1884-85. The particulars of the required 

 expenditure may be estimated as follow : — 



1. For the examination of the spawning beds, and for studying 



the habits and life history of the herring and other food 

 fishes, &c £300 



2. For collecting material for determining the nature of 



the food of fishes, 200 



3. For inquiring as to the destruction of immature fish, 



and as to the influence of fungi, parasites, and other 



enemies, ........ 100 



4. For the employment of skilled assistants, . . . 250 



5. For travelling and petty expenses, . . . . 50 



6. For appliances, . 100 



The Board desires to express emphatically the desirability of 

 continuing without further interruption the researches which have 

 meanwhile been suspended, and on this account strongly urges 

 that not less than the above sum of £1000 should be placed at its 

 disposal with as little delay as possible. 



In addition to this grant, the Board feels that it is very desirable 

 that another grant be voted to provide a small laboratory on the 

 west coast, near the Ballantrae fishing bank, and also one on the 

 east coast. The Board has ascertained that the lowest estimate 

 for carrying out these objects would be £1200. 



Further, it has been found that the sailing cruiser belonging to 

 the Board, owing to the introduction of steam fishing boats, is in 

 many respects inadequate for the ordinary work of superintending 



