PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
419 
might hear something more about them. Mr. Shrubsole mentioned that 
he had not been able to gain any information from any naturalist upon 
the subject of foul water ; this of course pointed to the desirability for 
pursuing the inquiries. He had just been present at the annual inspec- 
tion of the Marine Biological Laboratory at Plymouth, and he found that 
one of the greatest troubles there had been the condition of the water. 
Only two fish had died during the last year, and these were flat fish that 
did not appear to be able to feed themselves — in this respect the aquarium 
could not be said to have suffered much, but there were appearances 
which made the Director desirous of obtaining information as to the 
Diatomaceous and Desmidaceous condition of the water in the tanks. 
Very little was at present known of marine bacteria, and the first thing 
they wanted to determine, was whether the water was better or worse 
for containing the bacteria. Other inquiries naturally suggesting them- 
selves would be, what the organisms really were, which caused this 
“ foul water.” Was the foul water due to their presence? were they a 
great number of larvaj undergoing transformation ? In a Society like 
theirs, he thought they ought to be able to find means of determining 
such questions, and he would venture to suggest that some one should 
go down to Plymouth and make a minute study of the water there. 
He might remind the Fellows that when this marine station was esta- 
blished, their Society gave a donation of 100Z. towards the funds, and 
that they were consequently entitled to nominate a worker at one table 
for one month in each year. Mr. Shrubsole had brought before them a 
number of facts of which he could give them no explanation, and what 
he had just mentioned tended to show that there were a great many 
other people who were in the same position with regard to this subject. 
Mr. Shrubsole must not think therefore that his want of success in 
obtaining information was due to his own ignorance, rather than to the 
ignorance of mankind at large. 
The President was sure all who had heard Mr. Shrubsole’s state- 
ment, must have done so with great pleasure. The subject was one to 
which he had devoted special attention, and one also which involved 
many points of special interest. One which occurred to him was whether 
the peripheral coat of protoplasm was always permanently in one con- 
dition, or whether its differentiation might be a condition of the animal 
at one j)articular period of its existence. This was a matter which had 
not been very well worked out, and it was only by working it out that 
their knowledge on a subject of the highest interest could be advauced. 
They would therefore all hope that Mr. Shrubsole would be able to 
continue his investigations and would be in this way able to assist at 
least some portion of the way towards its elucidation. 
The thanks of the Society were, on the motion of the President, 
unanimously voted to Mr. Shrubsole for his communication. 
Mr. Shrubsole said he was greatly obliged to the Fellows present 
for the way in which his communication had been received. He should 
like to supplement what he had said by mentioning that the fishermen 
found it useless to attempt to carry on their fishing operations whilst 
the water was foul, so that it seemed evident that whatever the organ- 
isms were, they were distasteful to fish. He might perhaps be allowed 
to correct one remark made by Prof. Bell, as to his not having been a 
