( ii ) 
1922 the Industries Commission dealt with the Fisheries in an 
exhaustive manner, and recommended the immediate estab- 
lishment of an independent Department of Fisheries. 
Owing to financial reasons effect has not j^et been given to 
these recommendations, but it is hoped that within a short 
time an independent Department of Fisheries will come into 
being. At present the fisheries investigations are being 
cairied out by the Marine Biologist, assisted by an Assistant 
Marine Biologist, who is a trained Zoologist, and a Marine 
Superintendent, who is a nautical expert. A well-equipped 
trawler has been provided, and this has been fitted out with 
all the appliances necessary for modern oceanographical 
research. The trawler is used (1) in the inspections of the 
Pearl Banks, (2) in the Marine Biological Survey, and (3) in 
the periodic hj'drographical cruises in the Gulf of Mannar. 
The special problems with which the Department of Marine 
Biology is at present concerned are as follows : — 
(1 ) Inspections of the Pearl Banks, with a careful examina- 
tion of the distribution and growth rate of the pearl 
oyster and the hj'drographical conditions of the Pearl 
Banks. 
(2) The hydrographical conditions of the Gulf of ]\Iannar, 
especially as regards the chemical analysis and tem- 
perature of the water at different depths and the move- 
ment of the water as determined by means of drift 
bottles and the Ekman Current Meter. 
(3) Marine Biological Survey of the littoral waters of Ceylon 
by means of trawl, dredge, and tow-net in order to 
determine the distribution of the food fishes and the 
biological conditions of the littoral area. 
The results of this work have hitherto been published in the 
Annual Administration Reports of theCe^'lon Government, 
but as these reports are limited in size and scope, it has been 
found impossible to give a complete or adequate account of 
the work in progress. It was considered ad\nsable, therefore, 
to establish a special publication to deal at greater length with 
the work being done by the Department of Marine Biology, 
and the present volume is the first of the new series. 
JOSEPH PEARSON, 
June 5, 1922. Editor. 
