534 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUKIST. fFsB. ], 1902. 
98,944 and 68,859 cwt. respectively, stand ahead 
last year of Russia which has 66, '246 to its 
credit. The United Kingdom conies sixth 
on the list, with only 19,816 cwt. — evidence, 
we fancy, that the local Copra trade is 
passing out of British into Continental hands. 
In Desiccated Coconut the mother-country 
easily leads the way with over ten million 
lb. to her credit out of fourteen millions 
exported ; and she is followed by Germany 
with li million, America and Australia 
coming next with nearlj' a million, and 
three quarter million lb. respectively. Bel- 
gium took one-half of the 204,856 cwt. of 
Foonac we exported, and (xermany 93,577 
cwt. leaving only 8,462 cwt. for the rest of 
the world, of which the United Kingdom 
had 7,960. In Coconuts again the mother- 
country led, having absorbed 11^ millions 
out of less than 15 millions sent away, fol- 
lowed by Africa with over l|r million. Ger- 
many was bad a third with 845,000, followed 
by India with 741,000 nuts. The distribution 
of our Coir exports calls for no special com- 
ment ; but we must express satisfaction at 
the growth of the Fibre industry -the 
quantity sent away last year being 122,826 
cwt. the largest on record, or 7,800 cwt. in 
excess of the exceptionally heavy shipments 
of 1900. 
AN INTERESTING REPORT BY 
PROFESSOR HBRDMAN. 
We have to acknowledge, with thanks, a copy 
of the (ifteeutli annual Kepoi t of the Liverpool 
Marine Biology Committee and their Biological 
.station at Poit Erin, Isle of Man. The report 
is prepared by Mr. W A Herdnian, D.sc, f.e.s., 
F.L.C., F. R.S.E., who will shortly be in Ceylon 
to repoit on our oyster beds. Profu^^ely illus- 
trated it deals with a variety of subjects and ia 
in many respects fascinatingly interesting. At the 
outset the writer says; — 
The most important event that falls to be recorded 
this year is the arrangement concluded with the 
Government of the Isle of Man, as a result of which 
we shall in future occupy increased Laboratory ac- 
commodation and be responsible conjointly with a 
committee of the Tynwald Court for the conduct of 
a large Aquarium and Fish Hatchery. 
Proceeding he says that : 
During the past year the usual work, both educa- 
tional and in research, has been carried on steadily. 
A party of students and investigators occupied the 
Laboratory in the Easter vacation, and several col- 
lecting excursions were arranged for their benefit. 
Dealing with Fishery work the report states 
that : 
Although a certain amount of work, both directly 
and indirectly bearing upon local fisheries,, has gone 
on in the past at Port Erin, it is evident that much 
more will have to be done in the future. In the past 
we hare had, for example, the experimental hatching 
of various flat fish and Gurnards and the experimental 
and observational work on Oysters and disease, but 
in future fish hatching and lobster rearing will be 
undertaken on a large scale in the new hatchery, and 
various fisheries problems will be investigated in the 
adjoining Aquarium and Laboratory. 
The rejiort, as we have indicated, is interesting 
and the "wonders of the deep" unfolded even 
in the illustrations are very marvellous. We feel 
sure from the evidences betrayed in this report 
tUat if anything cm be tlone to revive our dor- 
mant pearl industry Professor Herdnian is the man 
most likely to devise the means whereby that 
end can be attained. 
« ♦ 
THE INTRODUCTION OP STEAM MOTOR 
" LORRIES " 
A LONG-FELT W.\NT IN CEYLON TO BE 
.SUPPLIED. 
An undoubted drawback in many parts of our 
island has been the want of proper passenger and 
transport facilities. Some districts, it is true, 
have had fairly t'ood coach services established ; 
other districts are very inadequately and irre- 
gularly supplied by the primitive as well as 
slow process of bullock carts, while other dis- 
tricts leave each individual to provide his own 
means of transport. The want has latterly be- 
come more acutely felt, and all who have the 
interesc of progress at heart will, we feel sure, 
hail with pleasure the announcement that steps 
are being taken and that ere many days have 
passed the public will be invited to take shares 
in a Company to be known as "The Ceylon 
Rapid Trrinsit Company Limited," and the object 
of which will be to import into C-ylon .Steam 
" Motor Lorries " and to ins'.itute servif-es ot 
such between certain specified districts. Messrs 
Boustead Bros are interesting themselves in the 
venture, and in conversation with Mr Money of 
that Arm, a representative of the Observer 
learned the following particulars :— Duruiy tne 
last four or five years, said Mr Money, the question 
of .Tiechanical transport on roads both for 
passengers and goods has . been making tre- 
mendous strides all over the world and of 
course 
MOTOR CARS 
have been introduced and come into 
general use. The attention of nianaiacturers 
and otliers has been turned to the transport by 
waggons and carts, and as far as efficiency and 
promptitude are concerned they seem to be agreed 
that it is not equal to what is possible by mechanical 
means. The type of vehicle which has been found 
most successful lor heavy transport is a vehicle 
propelled by means of steam and practically all 
the makers of these lorries for heavy transport 
liave adopted steam as the most suitable means 
of propulsion. We know more of steam machinery 
than we do of the newer types of engines such 
as explosive engines, for instance. In Lancashire 
anil in the JNorth of England generally these 
lorries have been in constant use for the last 
four years and they have proved a very great 
boon on account of their large carrying capacity 
and the niucti higher rate of speed they are 
capable of compared with the ordinary lorry. 
There are in Geyloa a good many places where 
obviously it would be a very great advantage 
if one could effect transport more expeditiously 
than is done at preseiit. There are districts where 
transports are carried on with very great diffi- 
culty by means of carts and it occurred to Mr 
Beamish, Engineer-Planter, in the Pussellawa 
district, who is the gentleman with whom the 
idea originated, to form this Transit-Company. Mr 
Beamish, who has taken an interest in the subject of 
road conveyance of this kind, was much interested 
in England in these lorries and it occurred to him 
that the time was ripe for introducing some such 
thing into Ceylon, Accordivisjly he ordered six lorries 
