20 
Part III. — Eighth Annual Report 
2. On Board the Fishery Cruisers : — ' Garland , ' Vigilant/ and 
' Jackal/ 
When sufficient observations have accumulated there is little 
doubt the results of their study will throw much light upon 
various fishery problems. 
7. Scheme of Scientific Investigations for the year 1890-91. 
The following is the outline of the scheme of work for the 
current year : — 
I. Sea Fisheries. 
A. Special Inquiries. 
1. Inquiries into the influence of beam-trawling and other 
modes of fishing on the productiveness of the fishing grounds. 
2. Investigations as to the distribution of immature and under- 
sized fish in inshore and offshore waters at different seasons, and 
their capture by different modes of fishing. 
3. Experiments on bait and the best modes of preserving it. 
East coast fishermen pay above £20,000 a year for the carriage of 
mussel bait. Three-fourths of the weight carried consists of the 
useless shells and refuse, the carriage of which thus costs the 
fishermen above £15,000 annually. Unsuccessful experiments 
have been made with some preservatives, but Dr Fulton believes 
a simpler process may be found effective. 
4. Inquiry into the destruction of food-fishes by sea-birds. 
Enormous quantities of immature fish and herrings are destroyed 
by certain sea-birds, which are of no economic value, but are 
protected by Acts of Parliament. Since the destruction of im- 
mature fish is so important in relation to the fish-supply, it is 
desirable to obtain definite information as to this source of loss. 
B. Investigations into the Food, Reproduction, MigrationSj and Habits 
of the Food-Fishes. 
1. Inquiries into the food of the edible fishes. 
2. Inquiries into the reproduction of the food-fishes ; determina- 
tion of the period and duration of spawning, the location of spawning 
grounds, and the limits of size of mature and immature fish. 
3. Inquiries into the migratory movements and rate of growth of 
food-fishes. 
G. The Development of the Food- Fishes. 
Investigation into the development of (1) the Turbot, (2) the 
Plaice, (3) the Lemon Sole, (4) the Skate, (5) the Haddock 
II. Shore Fisheries. 
These include the fisheries for oysters, mussels, clams, cockles, 
lobsters, crabs, &c. 
1. Inquiry into the causes of the depletion of oyster-beds ; the 
determination of the biological, thermal, and other physical con- 
ditions of existing beds, especially in relation to the fall of spat, and 
of places suitable for oyster-culture. 
2. Experiments as to mussel-culture. 
3. Experiments in the hatching and rearing of lobsters, 
