•i 
excursions is that the work was done in the summer, and that 
the fringe of water near to the coast is also the fringe of the great 
area of water outside where the spawning and hatching takes place. 
A short statement is given of the nature of the pelagic fauna 
obtained with the ova. This forms the subject of a paper by 
Professor G. S. Brady, based on the collections made at Culler- 
coats and the excursions for a number of years. These enquiries, 
including also the contribution by Mr. Bulman on the Mollusca, 
and the accounts by the writer of the shrimp-like Mysids, and the 
curious Crustaceans included under the name Cumacea may 
appear to have a remote connection with our Fisheries. But as 
these forms contribute to the food of fishes and of crabs and 
lobsters directly or indirectly, a knowledge of the kinds and of their 
abundance or scarcity at different places on the coast is essential to 
a full consideration of the life-histories of the more valuable forms. 
A sketch is given of a lecture delivered under the direction of 
the Technical Education Committee. The opportunity was again 
taken to interview the fishermen as to the conditions of their 
calling. It is clear from these conferences that the white fishing is 
now to a large extent in the hands of the trawlers, and that there 
is consequently great difficulty in providing employment for the 
last three months of the year. I had the mind to recommend the 
Committee to grant permits for 6 weeks (from the middle of 
September to the end of October) trawling with a small trawl of 
14 — 15 feet beam to be worked from a coble. We have reason to 
believe, however, that our efforts to improve the bait resources of 
the district will encourage line fishing. 
The harbour question at Craster is a very acute one, and the 
man or men who can solve it will earn the undying gratitude of the 
fishermen. 
The results of the hatching experiments made early this year, 
show that the work of fertilization of the ova of ripe fishes caught 
by the trawlers must be done at sea soon after the capture of the 
fishes. 
Attention is drawn to the important tables of the catches of 
crabs and lobsters contributed by Mr. Douglas, Beadnell, and Mr. 
Fawcus, Sea Houses. 
An experiment in mussel cultivation has been instituted on 
the Coquet, the result of which will be given, we hope, next year. 
Other places arc suggested, where the conditions appear to offer 
facilities for increasing the supplies of bait. 
