34 
In round numbers then we are in a position to say that our efforts 
this season have resulted in the return of some 500,000,000 fertilized 
ova to the North Sea. The number is too small to have very much 
effect, but it is encouraging and warrants us making further efforts 
next season. 
In this connexion we have been led to the conclusion that our 
work of investigation into the local fisheries would be much facilitated 
were we to establish a branch laboratory at North Shields on or near 
the Fish Quay. The salt water available would do for keeping the 
specimens alive, and Cullercoats is not very far away should it be 
found desirable to send living material to the tanks there. 
It would be possible even with care to hatch out fish at North 
Shields, and such would therefore be at hand for demonstration to 
the fishermen and others. ( 
But the laboratory would have even more justification from its 
position at the most important fishing station on the coast, offering 
the means for attacking with a wealth of material, problems relating 
to the food, distribution, migrations, growth, and periods of 
maturity of the common fishes, as well as other questions of 
economic and biological interest. 
We feel convinced that the results would in a very short time 
justify the innovation. 
t 
