. 2 Yen + ge >t. 4 os * ‘> * “ |
‘ ayers . 5 “_* i 4 ae i " ‘@ .

eg Tit eae te oY Ea Spas et

:)
em

Coa
a

=< Sh

HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

LIBRARY

OF THE

MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY.

\Y.240.

4 \\. WARN

- é
<
4
: * * “ tr
4
7g ° 4 {
vs *
, Ke ~
é So
wt a 5 .
‘ ,
. > +
' =
« Seat ae [
® 7
5 ¥
- & *
4
F
. 4
.
r = : - at x
—_—.-————— -
SS pee So
aaa —
‘ co 3
nS : a : :
a va. Ps
7 5
ve
a a Y
5, - as
baa) »
iA 2 7 - =~
ok
ah > < 5
7. Fs < ; ° r i
| a, < ome
- Ld ie * ~ ©
7 - o
: : }
Eves raed 7 *
‘d'
= .. & iS oa <i ' " —<
_ 5 < ed
+
F b vr. pe see
; in A
i 9
f +
the 4
: ip
MS thes i 4
‘ x a : 2 b
DJ -
s+ fc
4 ¥
»
é

VAS YO

} REPORT FOR 1896

ON THE

“LANCASHIRE SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY

Ar

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL.

DRAWN UP BY
Professor W. A. HEerpMAN, D.Sc., F.B.S.;
AND

Mr. ANDREW Scort, Fisheries Assistant.

“FOUR PLATES.

WITH A

CATALOGUE

OF ‘THE

me FISHERIES: COLLECTION”

IN THE
ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT,
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL.

LIVERPOOL :
Prryrep By T. Doss & Co., 229, BRowNLOW HILL.

~ 1897.

nM ele
Sidi :
Pn mae NY

Repokr on the Investigations carried on in 1896
in connection with the UANCASHIRE SEA-FISHERIES

LABoratTory at University College, Liverpool.

By Professor W. A. Herpman, D.Sc., F.R.S.; and
Mr. ANDREW Scort, Fisheries Assistant.

With Plates I—IV.

CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.

Parr I. By Andrew Scott. Parr II. By W. A. Herdman.
Food in Fishes’ Stomachs. Sea-Fish Hatching Experimeuts.
Mussels. The Oyster Investigation.
Bouchot Experiment. The Marine Laboratory at Piel.
Mussel beds. Explanation of Plates.

Cockles and Cockle beds. AprpenpIx—Catalogue of the Sea-
Lobsters. Fisheries Museum.
INTRODUCTION.

In reporting upon the progress made during the past
year, in addition to a continuation of the usual work on
the food and reproductive condition of the fish and shell-
fish sent into the laboratory, and a further examination
of the cockle and mussel beds of Morecambe Bay, we
have to record the commencement of ‘‘ bouchot’”’ mussel
experiments, a good deal of additional work on oysters and
disease, and finally a new departure in the artificial fertili-
sation and hatching of young sea-fish.

Mr. Scott has made several visits during the year, in
the steamer, to the off-shore fishing grounds, for the
purpose of getting further information regarding the
feeding habits of the edible fish. Visits have also been
made to the various spawning grounds in order to collect

2

fish eggs for the experimental hatching at Port Erin.
The shellfish beds in the neighbourhood of Piel Island in
Morecambe Bay have also been visited on several occasions
when samples were taken, and this will be done more
systematically in the future when the marine laboratory
at Piel is ready for occupation. In the latter part of the
year a good deal of Mr. Scott’s time has been occupied
in preparing illustrations, both in the form of photographs*
to be used as lantern slides and also specimens of all kinds
microscopic and otherwise, for the course of Free Fishery
Lectures and Demonstrations to be given in connection
with the Fisheries Museum at University College, Liver-
pool, in the early part of 1897.

The Sea-Fisheries Collection in the College Museum,
to which both Mr. Scott and I have given a good deal of
time and trouble, has now been gone over, added to, re-
arranged and labelled, and is ready for inspection. It
has already had a good many visitors, and will without
doubt prove of great advantage in connection with the
coming Demonstrations. We have prepared a Catalogue
of the Collection showing the arrangement, and giving
some information in regard to the exhibits. This catalo-
gue is appended to the present report as it will probably
be of interest to the members of the Committee and to
other readers.

I believe that such collections as this—especially if
made the subject of occasional lectures and demonstrations
—will be of considerable importance in diffusing amongst
the public a knowledge and appreciation of our Sea-
Fisheries and of the methods and objects of Sea-Fisheries
investigation.

My object has been, in arranging the present course of

* Instantaneous photographs have been taken of the various methods of
fishing in different parts of the district.

3

Fishery lectures, not to give all the lectures myself as I
did on the previous occasion, but to ask various gentlemen
who have devoted special attention to some one branch of
the subject to give a lecture each on his own speciality.

All those I asked at once kindly consented to co-operate,

and they have all, I know, taken a great deal of personal
trouble in the matter. There is every prospect that these
lectures will be a success. They are advertised as
follows :—

A Course of short Lectures and Demonstrations on

“Fish and Fisheries” will be given in the Zoology

Lecture Theatre and the Fisheries Room in the New
Museum of Zoology (University College, Liverpool) on
Monday evenings at 8 o’clock, commencing on January
18th, 1897. The Lectures and Demonstrations will be
illustrated by the Electric Lantern, and by the specimens
in the Fisheries Collection. They are open free to the
Public. The Course will be as follows :-—

Jan. 18th. The present position of our Fishing Indus-
tries, and what Biological investigations
might do; with a demonstration, from
models, of Capt. Dannevig’s Sea-Fish
Hatchery at Flodevigen in Norway.

To be given by Prof. Herpman, F.R.S.

Jan. 25th. The need and objects of Sea-Fisheries
Committees, with illustrations of the Fish-
ing Grounds, and the different methods
of Fishing in our District.

To be given by Mr. R. A. Dawson,
Superintendent of Fisheries.

Feb. Ist. Some methods of Fishing and of Fish Culture
in other European Countries.

To be given by Mr. R. L. Ascrort,
Member of the Sea-Fisheries Committee,

4

Feb. 8th. Fish Parasites, and some constituents of the
food of fishes.
To be given by Mr. Isaac C. THompson,
Bast
Feb. 15th. Crabs and Lobsters, their habits and life-
history.
To be given by Mr. ANDREW Scort,
Fisheries Assistant.
Feb. 22nd. The Bacteriology of Fish, and the Connec-
tion of Fish with Disease.
To be given by Professor Boycr, M.B.

If these lectures are appreciated in Liverpool it might
be worth while to repeat some of them at other Fishery
Centres throughout the district.

W. A. HERDMAN.

JANUARY Ist, 1897.

PART I.
By Mr. ANDREW ScoTT.

Foop IN FISHES’ STOMACHS.

DurinG the past twelve months, 630 stomachs of fish
collected in various parts of the district have been
examined, with the view of obtaining further information
as to the food of our more important food fishes, and also
for comparison with the results arrived at in former years.

Of the true fishes, fully two-thirds of the stomachs
were empty or contained food matter that could not be
identified, the remainder gave results practically identical
with what has been recorded in our previous reports.
Therefore it is not considered necessary to give again a
detailed account of the contents of the stomachs in each
species of fish. All our results are recorded on forms
and are available for consultation or for statistical purposes
at any future time.

MUSSELS.

Besides keeping up the examination of the stomachs of
this shellfish, an endeavour has been made to gain further
information regarding the time when the spawning takes
place in our own district. So far, the results bear out the
conclusions arrived at and stated in the report for 1894,
viz.:—that ‘‘the Mussel reaches maturity about the
middle of May.”’

THE BoucHot EXPERIMENT.

An experimental Mussel Bouchot has been erected on
the shore behind Foulney Island in Barrow Channel.

6

This Bouchot, which is placed between Roosebeck
outer scar and Foulney Island, is somewhat similar to
those used in the Bay of Aiguillon in France. It consists
of a single row of stakes, placed at intervals of about 3
feet, extending in a straight line for 52 yards, the position
being at right angles to the length of the Island and
roughly parallel to the shore of the mainland. The stakes
are interlaced with flexible branches, and sufficient space
is left at the bottom for mud, seaweed, and other things
to wash through. The Bouchot was erected during the
summer and was stocked with mussels on the 11th and
12th August, 1896, one-half of these being taken from the
outer scar and the other half from the beds in the
immediate neighbourhood. The methods employed in
fixing them to the Bouchot were two :—good sized bunches
-of young mussels were selected, tied up in pieces of old
net and then stuffed into the spaces amongst the inter-
lacing twigs; and good sized and fairly compact bunches
were put amongst the twigs, without net or other
_ supporting material.

On the 7th October the Bouchot was again visited and
found to be intact, but many of the mussels had been
washed off, both those protected by the net and those
unprotected. A considerable number, however, of the
mussels had become firmly attached to the twigs. On
October 8th a strong gale got up, which raised the tide
to such an extent, that Foulney Island was completely
‘ submerged, as well as large tracts of low-lying land along
the shore of the mainland,:causing considerable destruction
to property. When the gale moderated the Bouchot was
visited and was found to have stood well, no damage being
done to the structure itself, although a considerable
number of the mussels had been swept off, leaving the
Bouchot comparatively bare in places. As the weather

7

still continued stormy, it was considered inadvisable to
attempt to re-stock the Bouchot at that time, but the
fishery officers at Piel who had assisted at the first
stocking were instructed to add a fresh supply of young
mussels at the first convenient opportunity.

The experiment so far shows that it is possible to have
mussel Bouchots like those in France on the less exposed
parts of this coast, and that the mussels when put on
will readily attach themselves to the twigs. It now
remains to be seen, to what extent the spat produced
in the neighbourhood during the coming season will settle
down and remain upon the structure. A further point

that will then arise is the financial one
between the results obtained and the cost.

a comparison

THE MussEL BEDs.

The Roosebeck outer scar was visited on August 11th,
for the purpose of collecting mussels to put on the
Bouchot, and the opportunity was taken to note the
condition of the bed.

The mussels, which were reported upon last year, were
found to be flourishing, and in good condition, measuring
on an average one and a quarter inch in length, that being
an increase of half an inch since last year. There is
every appearance of a valuable yield of shellfish from
this bed, at no very distant date, probably not more than
two years hence, as the conditions still seem to continue
favourable for a rapid growth.

Owing to the insecure foundation of this bed, large
quantities of the mussels have been washed off into the
deeper water outside the scar, and it is here that a Bouchot
might be of considerable service, for there appears to be
no reason why mussels should not grow as rapidly on a
structure of this kind as on the soft mud of the bed and

8

they would be less liable to be washed away, when once
they had securely attached themselves to the twigs.
There is a small mussel bed at Mort Point near the
Piel end of Baicliff cockle bed. The mussels on this bed
appear to represent two stages of growth. On the inner
part of the scar, where the bottom 1s largely composed of
stones, the mussels are from 14 inches to 2 inches in
length but are covered with the elongated variety of Bala-
nus crenatus, Brug., in some cases to such an extent as
to leave little of the mussel shell visible. The outer part
of the bed, that nearest to the sea, is covered with a set
of young mussels ranging from 4 of an inch to 1} inches,
but the larger size are comparatively scarce. The mussels
here, are not unlike those on the outer scar at Roosebeck.
The shells are quite free from barnacles, which seems to
be commonly the case with mussels which are only
exposed during the ebb of spring tides. Mussels, stones,
wooden posts, &c., which are exposed to the air at every
ebb appear to be more frequently covered with barnacles,
than is the case with similar objects only seldom exposed.
The presence or absence of barnacles upon mussels is
no guide to the quality of the fish inside, but the scars
left when they have been cleaned off give the shells an
unsightly appearance, and so may affect their sale.

COCKLES AND COcCKLE BEDs.

The work carried out during the past year 1n connection
with the investigation into the food, spawning time, and
other points connected with the life-history of the cockle,
has been on similar lines to those on the mussel.

The constituents of the food supply of this shellfish are
in all points similar to those that the mussel feeds upon,
and consist chiefly of diatoms, spores of alge and other
vegetable remains.

9

The Baicliff Cockle Bed was visited and examined
during the low tides of October, but the week of stormy
weather which set in at that time interfered somewhat
with the work. However we were able to form a fair
estimate of the size of the bed and to observe the con-
ditions under which the cockles live.

The shore here consists for the yreater part of a flat
stretch of clean sand extending from Mort Point, right
on towards Bardsea and on the seaward side into the
water. The cockles grow and reproduce under the most
favourable conditions as there appears to be no lack of
food in the shape of diatoms and other vegetable matter,
which could be easily seen spread in golden patches all
over the sand, in the little hollows left by the retiring tide.

The cockles on the bed are very numerous; they are
in good condition, but of small size. The larger sizes
have now been almost entirely removed by the fishermen,
and the younger ones having not yet grown to maturity,
a very considerable number of them are therefore under
the regulation size.

LOBSTERS.

A small experimental tank has now been laid down at
Piel, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it would be
possible to keep lobsters in confinement and rear them
there.

This tank measures 6 feet by 5 feet by 2 feet, and is
placed on the north side of the gutter that runs past the
end of the enbankment formed by the old pier. The tank
is held down in position by iron stakes, which are fixed
one at each of the four corners, but as. these were
found to be insufficient for the purpose a number of large
stones had to be placed inside to keep the tank on the
bottom. These stones were afterwards found to be of
service in giving shelter to the lobsters. The tank is

10

covered on the top with galvanised wire netting, having a
padlocked door at one side, for the purpose of giving access
to examine the lobsters and for cleaning purposes. By
means of a hole bored in the bottom, and fitted with a
plug, the tank can be completely emptied.

The first lobster was put in on June 27th, it is a male
measuring then 83 inches in length, and was caught by
Mr. Wright on the scar near the moorings of the police
boat. By October 7th other six lobsters had been caught
on the scar and placed in the tank; one of these, a small
male measuring 43 inches, subsequently escaped through
the meshes of the wire netting. Of the six remaining
lobsters, two are females, and four males; they have
apparently become quite accustomed to their new sur-
roundings and are very lively. Abundance of food is
supplied by the fishery officers, in the form of dead and
living fish; the lobsters may also be able to capture in the
tank small crustacea, such as young shrimps, etc., which
are fairly abundant in the neighbourhood.

Along with the lobsters, a few crabs measuring about
4} inches across, were also put in the tank, and these
seem to be doing equally well; one of the crabs has cast
its shell.

So far as the experiment has gone, it tends to show
that it is possible to keep lobsters alive in captivity at
Piel, and that they will remain in a healthy condition.
The next point that remains to be seen is, when we get
the ova, whether it is possible to hatch out the young
lobsters and carry them through the early stages in their
life-history. With the new laboratory at Piel in working
order there should be no great difficulty in doing so.

ul

PART Ti.
By Professor W. A. HERDMAN.
THE SEA-FisH HatcHinc EXPERIMENTS.

InN various previous reports I have referred to the import-
ance of instituting as soon as possible actual experiments
in sea-fish hatching in order to determine what can be
done in our own district in the artificial or semi-artificial
propagation of sea-fishes. As the Port Erin Biological
Station, belonging to the Liverpool Marine Biology Com-
mittee, offered in its Aquarium house and tanks, and in
the specially pure sea-water off the south end of the Isle
of Man, special facilities for such observations, it was
decided to commence the experimental work at that
establishment. An additional inducement to attempt
hatching first at Port Erin was the presence of an impor-
tant spawning ground within easy reach from which more
readily than in any other part of the district we could
obtain a supply of spawning fish, and ripe males.

Accordingly with the help of a small grant to fit up
additional wooden tanks, we undertook, during the last
hatching season (Haster 1896), a series of observations
for the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Committee. As the
result of these experiments we successfully fertilised the
eggs (obtained from the parent fish caught with the trawl)
of the grey Gurnard (Trigla gurnardus), the lemon Sole
(Plewronectes nucrocephalus), and the Witch (Pleuronectes
cynoglossus), and kept them in the tanks until they
hatched out as young larve. We were not prepared in
this first season to proceed with the rearing; but we
propose, with additional tanks and an improved circulation

12

of water, to carry the work a stage further next season,
and also to try the same experiments in similar tanks at
the Piel (Roa Island) laboratory.

Last April we fitted up, in the lower floor of the
Aquarium house at Port Erin, three wooden hatching
tanks, each 5 feet by 3 feet by 1 foot, and so arranged, like
steps, that water could flow by bamboo spouts covered
with a fine silk net through the series of tanks. From
the lowest wooden tank the water fell into a concrete
floor tank, into which dipped an endless chain formed of
an india-rubber belt bearing numerous little buckets. This
chain of buckets revolved on a drum, octagonal in section,
which was kept in motion by india-rubber belting passing
from its axle to a pulley on a large water-wheel actuated
by the fresh water tap (see Pl. I.).*

Consequently, by turning the tap the whole apparatus
was set 1n motion, and the sea-water from the concrete
floor tank was raised by the little buckets and emptied
into a sloping wooden trough which guided it to the upper
hatching tank. Thus the same water was used over again,
a couple of gallons of fresh sea-water being added to the
system every day.

During the period when the apparatus was working the
temperature and the specific gravity of the water in the
tanks kept fairly constant, the extremes of the range
being :—

Temperature from 50° to 538° F., and

Specific gravity from 0°0265 to 0:0270.

Each of the three tanks had a partition 1 foot from its
outflow end which stopped 2.inches from the top, and a
second partition 6 inches nearer the end which reached

*The tanks and the water motor apparatus were made most carefully and

ingeniously, from our plans, by Mr. R. Garner, superintendent of the wood-
working department at University College, Liverpool.

i

13

the top but stopped short 2 inches from the bottom of the
tank. In the two compartments imperfectly separated by
this last partition, clean washed sand was placed so as to
reach to about 4 inches from the bottom. Consequently
all water escaping from the tank had to flow over the
first partition and wnder the second, filtering through the
bed of sand as it went. The object of this was to form
a sand trap which would let the water pass through, but
keep back the suspended fish eggs and embryos. By this
method the same water can be used to circulate through
several tanks containing different kinds of embryos.
When on a dredging expedition on April 5th in the
steaim-trawler “‘ Rose-Ann”’ we brought up from the deep
channel, 12 miles 8.W. of the Calf, bottom reamy mud,
depth 40 to 50 fathoms, a large number of spawning Hake,
Ling, Haddock, Plaice, and Witches. In fact nearly every
fish brought up from that spot was mature, and the
spawn was running out in quantities on the deck. When
I reported this to Mr. Dawson he arranged to bring the
“John Fell” over as soon as could be managed. She
arrived at Port Erin on Tuesday evening, April 21st, and
on Wednesday 22nd we were out trawling all day, on the
eround 12 miles §.W. of the Calf, and from there north-
wards towards Port Erin, with very poor results. We
boarded the steam-trawlers ‘‘ Lady Loch ” and ‘‘ Oceanic ”’
which were working on the same ground, but got practically
no spawning fish in quantity. The only spawn we were
able to collect and fertilise was from some Witches
(Pleuronectes cynoglossus). This was taken to the labor-
atory and, as I considered it scarcely worth putting in one
of the hatching tanks, 1t was placed in an earthenware
vessel, where most of it afterwards hatched out. The
next day we again had practically no success; and so, on
the following day, Friday, 24th, we tried further north,

14

about 8 miles off Dalby, reamy bottom, depths 20 to 40
fathoms, where I had in former seasons found spawning
Soles, Turbot and Brill. Here we were very successful,
and obtained spawning Plaice, Witch, Lemon Sole, and
erey Gurnard. These batches of eggs were fertilized in
pails on board ship and were conveyed to the laboratory.
The plaice spawn met with an accident, but the other
three samples were safely transferred one to each of the
three tanks prepared for their reception, where they were
kept under observation during the following two weeks.

Although the early history of such fish has been followed
elsewhere, we think it will be of interest to the Committee
to see figures of the first food fishes which have been
artificially fertilised and hatched in our district. Plates
II. to IV., drawn by Mr. Andrew Scott, show diagram-
matically the various embryonic stages of the three kinds
of fish during their development.

The first batch of Witch embryos fertilised on the 22nd
began to hatch out on the 29th, the seventh day, the
majority of them died on the following day.

The second batch of Witches, fertilised on April 24th,
and the Lemon Soles of the same date began to hatch on
Saturday, May 2nd, and by Sunday afternoon nearly all
of them had left their egg membranes. A few of them
died on Monday, and more on the following day.

The Gurnards were later, and many of them died or
became abnormal before hatching.

When the “‘ John Fell” left Port Erin on the evening
of the 24th, Mr. Scott went with her to try to obtain some
more spawn on other grounds. The neighbourhood of
the Bahama and King William banks were tried without
success, and then on the Monday morning, by the kind
permission of Mr. Knox of Douglas, the owner of the
‘““Rose-Ann,” Mr. Scott was permitted to join that trawler

15

during her cruise. He saw 8 hauls made and examined
the fish, but no fertilised eggs could be secured. Most
of the fish were ‘spent,’ and of those few species of
which ripe females were obtained no mature males were
forthcoming. Consequently no further experiments could
be tried at that time at Port Erin. This season the
endeavour should be made to obtain spawn a good deal
earlier—not later than the beginning of March—in order
to continue the observations at Port Erin and also to
start a similar series of experiments at the Piel laboratory
in the Barrow Channel.

THE OYSTER INVESTIGATION.

Since last year’s report the work on Oysters under
various conditions, and their possible connection with
disease in man, has been carried on actively in the Uni-
versity College laboratories. As it was obvious that a
very important part of the investigation consisted in the
determination of the action and behaviour of the typhoid
organism (Bacillus typhosus) in sea-water and in the body
of the Oyster, a great part of the work has been carried
out by Professor Boyce in the Bacteriological laboratory.
We have also, in the Zoological department, had under
observation a number of oysters which after infection with
the typhoid organism were placed in a stream of con-
stantly running sea-water, in order to ascertain whether
pathogenic organisms can be satisfactorily removed by
washing—or rather by allowing the oyster the opportunity
of passing fresh water through its body. As a result of
these experiments, a report was drawn up which was
read by Professor Boyce, on September 28rd, before the
Physiological Section at the Liverpool Meeting of the
British Association. From that report I extract the
following tables and statements :—

16

The present report deals almost exclusively with the
Bacteriology of the oyster and the behaviour of the
Bacillus typhosus in sea-water and in the body of the
oyster. The subject of the green colouration in oysters
is also discussed but will be treated more fully in a
subsequent report. The questions investigated are the
following :—

I. The indentification and differentiation of Bacillus
typhosus and B. colt communis.

II. The action of sea-water upon the growth of B.

typhosus.

III. The Bacteria present in the alimentary canal of

the oyster.

IV. The infection of the oyster with B. typhosus, and

its removal by washing.
V. The green colouration and green disease in oysters.

I.—The Identification and Differentiation of Bacillus

typhosus and B. colt communis.

We have systematically tested the majority of the chief
differential reactions upon samples of Bacillus typhosus
and B. colt obtained from numerous sources, and have in
all cases found unmistakable differences between the two
bacilli.

Table showing Differences of Reaction.

Gaetan Fermentation. Indol Coagula- | Potassium Iodide
GlucoseGelatine| Reaction tion Potato Gelatine
A. 3B. typhosus.
1. Institut Pasteur none none none |very small growth
2. From spleen of 5 se x a
typhoid patient
3. Prof. Delépine * Ay FP ap
4. Prof. Wright 6 slight trace | clot slow- oF
(Netley). ly formed
De | a none none 9
6. +-Dr.S. Woodhead a M 7 “0
i. | ” ” ” )
. l Dr. Kanthack a 28 Ue a
-) ” ” ” ”
10. Institute of pre- Hh 0 “0 np

ventiveMedicine

17

Ibn Bs com:

1. Institut Pasteur | well marked |marked pink| marked | growth abundant
2. Prof. Delépine a5 slight pink . a
3. Prof. Wright Bs pink 5 -
4, ar slight pink A 5
af aA marked pink 5° -
6. " pink 5 “3
| Dr. S.Woodhead ” z z z
. 33 9 9 ”
9. ” ”? 99 ”
10. +B) 9 2? ”
a ) 9 li 1 t . | be) o>
2.) nH» Xx: ep a3 slight pink oC ..
13.) Dr. Kanthack * Apa i A
14. Institute of Pre- re ‘ oc *

ventive Medicine

Summary of Constancy or Variability of Reactions.

A. For B. typhosus :—

ie

ce

Fermentation test. Constant (Burri and Stutzer
have shown gas formation).

Indol reaction. Slight indication in one case.

Milk Coagulation. Slight clot in one case.

Potassic iodide potato gelatine. Characteristic
invariably,very little use as a separating medium.

Potatoes. Constant with usual precautions.

6. Reaction in gelatine. Marked differences of rate

of diffusion.

B. For B. colt :—

ie

Fermentation. Rate of gas formation variable,
otherwise constant.

Indol reaction. Reaction not constant.

Milk coagulation. Rate variable. Constant with
us, with others not constant.

. Potassic iodide potato gelatine. Abundant growth.

Behaviour in gelatine. Diffusion very variable,
in many cases less rapid than B. typhosus.
Motility. Very variable.

18

TI.—The Action of Sea-water upon the Growth of the
B. typhosus.

EXPERIMENT I. EXPERIMENT IV,
No. of No. of
Bacilli Bacilli
At time of mixing - - 29,250 At time of mixing - - 130
After 21 hours - - 20,475 After 6 hours - - 41
9 45 ” 2 7 9,945 9 23 9 = r 31
sop a7 Bay - - 9,360 aoe Caeeas - - 38
nA Aaa - - 5,850 ay, 39 - - negative
ey - - 260 sy a as - - 1
oA Olens - - 11 areal. - - 0
EXPERIMENT II. EXPERIMENT VY.
At time of mixing - : 1,300 At time of mixing - - 31,200
After 2lhous - - 1,105 | After172hous - - 9,360
” 45 ” = =, 780 ” 244 ” = = 3825
ByPAyza oe hie 650 Pas
: 95 i : 395, Experiment VI.
Pe aa a Ge - - 2 At time of mixing - = 325
spe O40 G5 ° - 0 After 172 hours - - 2
EXPERIMENT III. EXpreRIMENT VII.
At time of mixing - = 228750 At time of mixing - 395
After 5 hours = = es 550 After 504 hours (wv ater cope
ao: an 2 A 11.700 EM tole (0% 10) IMO) (0) - 79
: 4 . - - 3,250
se s is i : 3/260 ExperIMEnT VIII.
eas - - 455 At time of mixing - : 825
Sco LOmmes - - 325 After 504 hours - - 0

These results are fairly uniform. When a large number
of Bacilli are added to the water their presence may be
demonstrated longer than in cases where small quantities
are used. Fourteen days would appear to be the average
duration in sea-water incubated at 35°C., whilst when kept
in the cold their presence was demonstrated on the twenty-
first day.* There appears to be no initial or subsequent
multiplication of the Bacilh. Between 40 and 70 hours
after infection there is less decrease than at other periods ;
but there is no evidence of increase in numbers of the
Bacilli when grown in sea-water either when incubated
or at ordinary temperatures. We do not think, however,

*Dr. Cartwright Wood, however, finds that the typhoid Bacilli may
possibly persist for two months.

#9

that these experiments can be taken without reserve as
an indication of what might take place in nature.

I1I.—The Bacteria present in the Alimentary Canal
of the Oyster.

This research has proved of very considerable utility in
euarding us against errors in our subsequent infection
experiments, and is of further interest in demonstrating
the large number of cases in which the colon bacillus was
normally present.

Methods.—In analysing the contents of the stomach we
have, 1n all cases, cauterised the mantle over the region of
the stomach and have inserted a sterilised fine glass
pipette and withdrawn a quantity of fluid varying from
gy to zo of a cubic centimetre. The contents of the tube
have then been mixed with liquefied agar, ordinary gelatine
or sea-water gelatine and Petri dishes made. The agar
dishes have been incubated at 37°C., the gelatine at 21°C.
to 24°C. As the figures will subsequently demonstrate
there is an enormous difference between the number of
organisms appearing upon the agar incubated at the high
temperature and the simple or sea-water gelatine incubated
at the low temperature. This heat method of separation
proved quite equal to, if not better than, the carbolic acid
or potassic iodide methods.

Experiments.—In the first six cases examined, pre-
cautions were taken to ensure that the oysters were
especially fresh, in the other cases they were obtained
haphazard from the various shops (see table).

The number of organisms taken from the stomach of
the oyster which could survive a temperature of 37°C.,
was comparatively small. In a very Jarge proportion of
cases (4 to 4) the organism present was B. coli in over-
whelming numbers, and next in frequency were species

20

No. of Colonies Bacillus isolated giving following Reactions ;

Oysters | z
_ | Salt-water | Fermen- Coagula-| KI =:
Agar Gelatine | tation Indol tion Gelatine Motility ’
A 0 | not made
B 5
C 0
D 0
E 1
F 6
108
Shop 2+ | 1,040 active | marked] marked} marked --
390
Aye: 455
2)
2 active | marked} marked
102
ee
1,170
21
| 195
6 | 5
” 6. 20
” 74 :
3! 2
aM TED active | none marked} marked | motile
( 9 active | none marked | marked —
CP) | a
260
(| 195
2 es 520
1! 65 active | marked} marked} marked} motile
»”? { 70
12 {| 650
a {| 260 active | none marked | marked | motile
: 13 {| 150 active | marked| marked | marked| motile
rea |p Sale 5
: 14! 6 none none marked | marked | motile
?
{ 2
1F {| 100 active | marked | marked | marked} motile
+] i 5
3 16! 20 active | marked] marked | marked| motile
: ( 70
Pre es) 25 3,025 | active | marked| marked | marked} motile
4 19 1 2,330
» 20 | 265 | 12,000
ayell 100 1,755 | active | marked | marked | marked} motile
ere 35 2,330 | active | marked} marked} marked | motile
” a nts) 3.025 | active | marked} marked] marked} motile
» 2 40 6,500
5» 25 5 | 13,000
9» 26 2 8,775
ee 825 17,550 | active | marked} marked | marked} motile
», 30 50 20,475
np all 65 2,925 | active | marked} marked| marked | motile

21

of Proteus. It will be seen that in one instance, at least,
‘the organism approached in its reactions the typhoid
type. We believe that on account of the presence of this
coli group, the identification of the B. typhosus would be
difficult in nature. We cannot at present state whether
the coli group found in these experiments indicates sewage
contamination, or whether, as is quite likely, we are
dealing with a group common in the intestine of the
oyster and in salt-water. The matter is being investigated
by us. But, as bearing upon the next question, we have
found that the perfectly fresh oyster contains far fewer
bacteria and that the percentage of B. coli is much less.

IV.—The Infection of the Oyster with the B. typhosus,
and its removal by washing.

The following table shows that the typhoid bacillus
does not increase in the body or in the tissues of the
oyster. The figures would rather indicate, comparing the
large number of bacilli present in the water with those
found in the alimentary tract, that the bacilli perish in
the intestine.

Table showing Number of Organisms present in
Stomach after wnfecting Water.

No. of

: : Organisms S28 .
Oyster | Inoculated | Examined poms present Bn ae inthe
_ Agar in Oyster ‘
if Aug. 25 | Aug. 26 1,700 | almost en- | water in the same case
tirely typhoid) 585,000 per c.c.
2 ” ,’
3 a Aug. 27 7,020 e water in the same case
468,000 per c.c.
4 a Aug. 28 7,000 “6 water in the same case

40,950 on agar, 5,200
gelatine per ¢.c.

5 Aug. 26 | Aug. 29 455 fs

6 Aug. 28 Aug. 30 195 ae water in the same case
2,047,500 per c.c.

7 ” Sept. 4 390
4 8 Aug. 31 .) 825
e 9 Sept. 10

22

In the following series of experiments infected oysters
were taken, the duplicates of which as seen in the pre-
ceding table contained comparatively large numbers of
the B. typhosus, and were subjected to a running stream
of pure sea-water. The result is definite and uniform,
there is a great diminution or total disappearance of the
B. typhosus in from one to seven days.

Table showing Organisms present after Washing.

No. of
Oyster] Inoculated} Washed | Examined ehibaes Kind of Organisms present
Agar

i Aug. 25 | Aug. 26 | Aug. 30 80 | 2 colonies B. typhosus

2 Oo Aug. 28 OE 23 | B. typhosus present

3 Aug. 26 a5 An 44 5 x

4 a Aug. 29 a 40 3 a

5 Aug. 27 Fe "5 5 Ac we

6 59 6 Aug. 31 700 | abundant B. typhosus

a Aug. 28 | Aug. 30 » 55 | B. typhosus present

8 Aug. 26 | Aug. 28 | Sept. 3 4 | ? B. typhosus

9 Aug. 27 Aug. 29 Bs 10 no B. typhosus found
10 3 % “0 8 | 8 colonies of B. typhosus
11 Aug. 28 | Aug. 30 | Sept. 4 4 | 1 colony of B. typhosus

12 i Sept. 3 y 200 | majority B. typhosus

13 Aug. 31 2 3 4

14 Aug. 28 | Sept. 3 | Sept. 6 65 | no B. typhosus, but Proteus
15 Aug. 31 5p Bn 5 | ? B. typhosus

16 36 Sept. 5 aa 70 | half of colonies B. typhosus
17 i Sept. 3 | Sept. 10 1 | no B. typhosus

18 oF Sept. 5 | Sept. 11 2 | ?B. typhosus

V.—tThe Green Colouration and ‘‘ Green Disease ”’
in Oysters.

We have continued our investigation of green oysters
from various localities, including both the healthy green
oysters grown at Marennes and other places on the West
and North coasts of France, and in the Roach River in
Essex, and also what we regard as the unhealthy oysters
which show a pale greenness due to a leucocytosis. The
green patches visible to the eye on the mantle of these
oysters correspond to accumulations of the leucocytes

23

which in mass have a green tint. These cells are granular
and amoeboid. The granules do not give any definite
reaction with the aniline stains and so far we have not
made out their precise nature.

Dr. Charles Kohn, at our request, has kindly made a
further Chemical analysis of Oysters from various localities
for us, and his results, as expressed in a paper he read on
the subject at the British Association Meeting, are as
follows :—*

“The early observations of Berthelot which showed
that the green colour of French oysters (‘ huitres de Mar-
ennes’) is not due to chlorophyll, but probably to iron
have been recently extended by A. Chatin and A. Muntz
(Compt. Rend., 1892, exvil. 17 and 56). From their analy-
tical results these observers conclude that both the green
and the brown colourations of various types of French
oysters are due to the presence of iron, and that the depth
of colour bears a close proportion to the quantity of iron
contained. The colourations are chiefly apparent in the
gills, but extend also to the labial palps and parts of the
alimentary canal. Chatin and Muntz base their conclu-
sions in the first place upon the fact that they find about
twice as much iron in the gills as in the rest of the body
of green oysters, and secondly upon the occurrence of a
larger quantity of iron in the gills of green than of white
oysters.

“The cause and origin of this colouration is a physiologi-
cal problem of much interest, but the confirmation of
Chatin and Muntz’ results also appeared of importance
to Profs. Herdman and Boyce in connexion with their
investigations on oysters and disease, and therefore the

*I beg to express my thanks to Dr. Kohn for his kindness in making

these determinations for us, and for allowing me to incorporate his results in

this report.

24

following experiments on the occurrence of copper as
well as of iron in various kinds of oysters were undertaken
at Professor Herdman’s request. The point at issue is
not so much the nature of the colouring matter, nor
whether it does or does not contain iron, but simply
whether the coloured parts of the green oysters contain
proportionately such an excess of the metai that the colour
can be attributed to its presence. This has not been
found to be the case. The determination of the copper
appeared to be of some interest, since poisonous effects
have often been attributed to its presence, although earlier
observers have shown that a small quantity is a normal
constituent of the blood of the oyster.

‘“‘ Klectrolytic methods of analysis were adoped both for
the determination of iron and copper; these methods I have
already shown (Brit. Assoc. Reports, 1893, p. 726) possess
marked advantages for the estimation of minute quantities
of metal, especially if derived from organic matter, for
they are quite free from any prejudicial influences traces
of organic matter may exert, such as arise when volu-
metric or calorimetric methods are employed. In each
determination the bodies or gills only of six oysters were
carefully washed, dried between filter paper to remove as
much adherent moisture as possible and then carefully
dried in porcelain dishes in the air bath at 100° C.
When this drying was as complete as possible, the oysters
were heated in the air bath until thoroughly carbonised,
the carbon carefully burnt off over the free flame and the
residue finally ignited in a porcelain crucible. Special
care was taken to exclude dust during both the drying
and the ignition. ‘The ash was then thoroughly extracted
with a mixture of 25 c.c. hydrochloric acid and 25 c.c.
sulphuric acid (1:2) on the water bath, and the resulting
solution filtered and concentrated. The residue was free

25

from both copper and iron. ‘The acid solution obtained
was electrolysed for copper with the usual precautions,
a spiral of fine platinum wire weighing about 5 grme.
being employed as the cathode. The iron was determined
in the residual solution, after neutralisation with am-
monium hydrate, &c., acidifying with a few drops of
oxalic acid solution, and boiling with ammonium oxalate.
Four grme. of the oxalate were added in each case, the
precipitated calcium oxalate (which is quite free from
iron) filtered off and thoroughly washed and the resulting
solution electrolysed, the metallic iron being also deposited
on a spiral of platinum wire. <A blank experiment with
all the reagents employed was made and the amount of
metal found (0°0002 grme. iron) deducted in each case.
Also the deposited metal, both iron and copper, was
dissolved off the electrode by acid, the solution obtained
tested by the ordinary reagents and the spiral re-weighed,
as a check upon the determinations since the quantities
found were extremely small.

“The following table gives the results obtained, the iron
being expressed in milligrammes per six oysters or gills
of six oysters in each case, so that the weights given
express the figures actually found.

I1.— Determination of Iron.

i French | : oe
Six Oysters ehErnitiee da Marennes”| Dutch American
Gills only 0°6 mgrme, 0°4 2°3
Bodies minus gills 1'2 1:5 ey

“From these figures it is evident that there is not an
excessive quantity of iron in the gills of the green oysters,
the proportion of iron in the gills as compared with the

26

rest of the body is somewhat more (1:2) than that found
in Dutch oysters (1:3°7) but much less than in American
oysters which are white (1'4:1). The comparison is pur-
posely made on the absolute quantity of metal in the gills
and the rest of the body, as any other basis for calculation
is fallacious. Chatin and Muntz reckon on the weight
of the dried organic matter present, but it was not found
possible to get anything approaching constant weights in
this way. This may to some extent account for the
differences in our results, but I should also lke to point
out that although the ratio of iron in the gills and the
rest of the body in green and in brown oysters is from
1:1°8 (feebly green) up to 1:2°3 (very green) they also
instance white oysters with a proportion of 1:1°6. It is
certainly somewhat strange that they find more iron in
the gills than in the rest of the body in all cases, which
is not the case in my own experiments. But the quanti-
ties of metal present are so small, that since they do not
state how many oysters were taken for analysis and
employ the permanganate method for the estimation of
the iron, it is difficult to say what degree of absolute
accuracy their results represent and therefore to judge in
how far their analytical data justify their conclusions.

“From two points of view the above results show that

the greenness of the gills of French oysters is certainly
not due to iron :—

(1) Because the gills of the green oysters contain less
iron than the rest of the body ;

(2) Because the proportion of iron in the gills as
compared with the rest of the body in white
(American) oysters is greater than in the green.

“That the method is reliable is shown by two determin-

ations of the iron in the gills of American oysters one
giving 2°3 and the other 1°8 mgrme. of iron per six pairs

27

of gills. Variations in the size of the oysters will of
course account for small differences, especially with the
bodies.

I1.—Determination of Copper.

x a French. : Cee
Six Oysters i atres do MMarenhes” Dutch American
Gills only Trace 0°8
Bodies minus gills 2°4 mgrme. 1:4 3°3

‘These results show that copper is present normally in
both green and in white oysters in small quantity, but
that the greenness of the gills of French oysters is certainly
not due to this metal—in fact they contain only the merest
trace.

“Experiments by Prof. Herdman on the feeding of
oysters with very dilute saline solutions of iron and of
copper salts entirely confirm these analytical data.
Beyond a certain amount of post-mortem green staining
the oysters did not acquire any green colour.”’*

Prof. Thorpe who examined some green oysters obtained
by Dr. Bulstrode at Falmouth found that they contained
a notable amount of Copper. Possibly, however, the
copper, in this exceptional case supposed to be derived
from copper mines, may be merely mechanically deposited
in the oyster, and although present may not be the actual
cause of the colour, as we found the living oyster would
not become coloured from copper salts.

Since our report on oysters and disease was read before
the British Association in September, a bulky Local
Government Board Report Supplement by Dr. Thorne

* See, for further details our account of these experiments in last year’s
Report, p. 62.

28

Thorne, Dr. Bulstrode and Dr. E. Klein. has appeared,
the conclusions in which very largely agree with and
support the results arrived at by Prof. Boyce and myself.
Dr. Bulstrode independently corroborates our account of
the ‘‘ pale green”’ disease, which he has also met with.

Oysters are at present being much discussed by the
public and are sometimes condemned upon what seem
insufficient grounds. Under these circumstances I feel
myself justified in drawing up the following remarks of
a general nature, addressed to the public, upon :—

‘‘ Healthy and Unhealthy Oysters.”

It is very important at the present juncture that the
public should recognise—both in justice to our famous
‘“‘ Natives’’ and other fishery industries, and also for their
own comfort and*® ease of mind—that although some
oysters and other shellfish may be hable to convey disease,
others, probably most of them, are a healthy and valuable
food; not perhaps a necessity, but certainly in the case of
some invalids and convalescents, and to the hard-driven
brain worker, an important addition to the diet. The
recent oyster scare, or rather succession of scares, must
have inflicted an immense amount of injury upon the
oyster trade, and have caused much uneasiness and alarm
amongst consumers. We can scarcely doubt, however,
that the result will be advantageous to all concerned in
the end, if only the sanitary authorities and the oyster
growers can be induced to act upon the information now
being supplied from various laboratories as to the life-
processes of the oyster and the possible connection with
disease germs.

The strongly worded Local Government Board Report
which appeared towards the end of 1896, containing
reports by the Medical Officer and others, drew public
attention to what had been previously known only toa

29

few investigators, viz., that some—by no means all—of
our oysters and mussels are grown or kept under most
insanitary conditions, and may when taken as food,
without the necessary precautions, from unhealthy local-
ities, cause disease or poisoning. Since the publication
of this ‘‘ Yellow book”’ there has been a certain amount
of complaint, and even some indignant remonstrance
from oyster producers, much inquiry on the part of the
public, and some correspondence in scientific journals.
It seems to me that a few points want to be clearly stated,
and some conclusions drawn as to the future regulation
of our shellfish trade.

In the first place, out of the various forms of human
poisoning which can be caused by food, shellfish, under
unhealthy conditions, may give rise to two which are very
distinct from one another. They are:—l. Bacterial
infection, due to the presence of actual lving disease
germs, derived presumably from sewage. 2. Intoxication
with organic poisons developed in the body of the oyster
or mussel.

We need scarcely consider the third possible case,
poisoning by means of copper salts taken into the body of
tne shellfish from its environment, as this, if it ever
occurs, must be very rare. All oysters contain a little
copper in their blood, but not enough to do any harm.

We are left then with the two possible causes of disease
—specific bacterial infection and organic poisons. Ifa
case of typhoid arises from eating an oyster, then we
suppose that oyster must have contained the lving
typhoid bacilli, and these must have reached the oyster
-from some previous case of typhoid—that is bacterial
infection, and the disease only develops after the proper
and considerable interval. If, on the other hand, more or
less severe gastric derangement and other symptoms of

30

acute poisoning follow almost immediately after eating
shellfish, usually mussels, that we suppose to be due to
the toxic effect of an organic poison or ptomaine called
mytilotoxine developed in the liver of the shellfish as the
result of an unhealthy life and probably caused by microbes.
The two causes are distinct, and their effects upon man
are very different, but both are due in the long run to
contamination of the water, and so to want of care in
choosing suitable localities for our shellfish beds.

So it comes to this, if we can have our mussel beds and
oyster farms and ‘‘layings’’ inspected by competent
authorities, and certified by the Board of Trade or some
sanitary authority as being in a healthy condition, we
could eat our oysters with an easy mind, which would
be an undoubted advantage both to consumers and “‘ the
trade.” The only objections, I take it, that can be urged
against such a plan of inspection are—First, What are we
to do with foreign oysters—Dutch, French, or American ?
Some or all of them may be good, but we cannot ensure
that they are reared in thoroughly sanitary conditions.
In the second place, pure sea-water, free from any chance
of sewage contamination, can no longer be found close to
any of our large coast towns, and yet localities in our
estuaries and in the immediate neighbourhood of large
centres of population are, from obvious reasons, the most
convenient places for fattening and storing oysters.

It is probable, then, that we must be satisfied with a
compromise. We must be content with something less
than absolute perfection. After all, we do not want—
even if we could get it—an aseptic oyster. The rest of
our food—our milk, our bread and cheese, our ham sand-
wiches, and so on—are teeming with germs, most of them
harmless so far as we know, but some of them may be
just as bad as any that can be in shellfish. If we were

31

to insist on breathing filtered air and eating nothing but
sterile food washed down with antiseptic drinks, we
should probably die of starvation or something worse, if
we did not go mad first with the constant anxiety.
Pasteur once started the interesting question, which is
now being worked out, whether the life of a higher animal,
such as man, is possible under absolutely aseptic condi-
tions, free from all germs. Whether possible or not, it
would certainly not be desirable. We probably owe more,
on the whole, to micro-organisms than will counterbalance
what we suffer from them.

Consequently, I would urge the exercise of common-
sense by the public, and of moderation on the part of some
sanitary reformers. By all means let us get our oyster
beds as healthy as possible but do not insist upon con-
ditions which will make it impossible to rear any oysters
at all.

Professor Boyce and I, as the result of our work at this
subject—oysters and disease—for the last two years, recom-
mended a year ago (in the report for 1895 on the Lancashire
Sea-Fisheries Laboratory) two sanitary measures—namely,
1st, the inspection of all grounds upon which shellfish
are grown or bedded so as to ensure their practical
freedom from sewage; and, 2nd, the use, when necessary,
of what the French call dégorgeoitrs—tanks of clean
water, in which the oysters should be placed for a short
time before they are sent to the consumer. Iam inclined
now to suggest that a combination of these two methods
would be a practical and satisfactory solution of the
present difficulty. ‘The dégorgeoirs may be regarded as a
precautionary measure of the nature of quarantine, to
which oysters from foreign or unknown beds, or such as
are suspected from any reason, should be subjected. Our
experiments at University College have shown, as Professor

32

Boyce announced to the physiological section at the
recent British Association meeting, that it 1s easy to get
rid of bacterial infection by placing the shellfish in a
stream of running water. When oysters were infected
with typhoid, and were then placed in a series of vessels
through which a stream of sea-water was kept running,
-it was found that there was a great diminution or total
disappearance of the typhoid bacillus in from one to seven
days. 'The water need not be sea-water (although that is
best), but may be fresh-water with a little salt, as oysters
frequently live in estuaries which are brackish, or, at
times, almost wholly fresh; and I may add, for the
comfort of troubled housekeepers, that a clean vessel in
the pantry sink under the running tap is a very fair
substitute for our more elaborate experimental apparatus,
and that even one day makes a great deal of difference in
the washing-out of the germs. I need scarcely say that
the oysters must be alive. It is no use subjecting oysters
that have been opened to this prolonged soaking. The
essence of the ‘‘dégorgement” treatment is that the
living animal purifies itself.

Authoritative inspection and licensing of the shellfish
- grounds would, no doubt, result in many beds being at
once certified as quite healthy, and oysters from these
might then be sold without restrictions, and consumed
with peace of mind; a few localities, which are discussed
in the Local Government Board Report, would be at once
condemned as unsuitable to have any connection whatever
with human food; while there would remain a number of
spots in estuaries or near large towns where the conditions
are not absolutely bad and are not wholly good, and
oysters from such places should be subjected to the
‘“‘degorgement’”’ treatment before being sold. One other
simple piece of advice: The oyster ought to be obtained

33

as fresh as possible from the sea, or from moving water.
It is not good for any animal—the oyster is like its
consumer in this as in many other respects—to be shut
up in a barrel or a sack for days or weeks, and if you put
the oyster under unhealthy conditions, you will probably
eat unhealthy oysters.

A careful consideration, then, of our own experiments,
and of the evidence given in the recent Local Government
Board Report and derived from other sources, leads us to
the conclusion that what is indicated at the present time
is that (1) some fisheries or sanitary authority should offer
to inspect the beds, and certify as to their condition ;
(2) the oyster growers and merchants should unite in an
effort to remove all grounds for suspicion by allowing
biological as well as economical considerations to weigh
and

9?

with them in their choice of localities for ‘laying,
(3) the public should not give way to unnecessary alarm.
We cannot escape disease germs, and we probably all of
us encounter them frequently without any consequences.
Shellfish only share with milk, bread, cold meat, the
water we drink, and the air we breathe the responsibility
of occasionally being liable to convey disease to the
human body, and that is no sufficient reason for avoiding
what is otherwise healthy food. Common-sense on the
part of the public, reform where necessary by the oyster
trade, and regulation by some impartial authority, ought
to enable us to feed on healthy oysters with an easy
mind.
THE Marine LaBoRATory AT PIEL.

In the introduction to last year’s report I alluded to
the fitting up of a branch laboratory at Piel (Roa Island)
in Barrow Channel. At first it was only proposed that
the large boat house attached to the house known as
Villa Marina should be made use of, and under these

34

circumstances, at the request of your Committee, in my
capacity of Honorary Director of your Scientific work, I
draw up the following suggested scheme of observations :—

‘MEMORANDUM sent by W. A. Herdman to the Chairman
of the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Committee on August
19th, 1896, in regard to the uses that could be made
of Bouchots, Lobster tank, and Branch Laboratory,
Piel Island.

I. Bouchots.

“The chief object, it seem to me, of these experimental
Bouchots is to enable us to institute a comparison between
the two methods of rearing mussels :—on Beds, and on
Bouchots. We already have the mussels growing in beds
in our neighbourhood. What we want to know is :—

(1) Can we usefully supplement the beds by Bouchots ?

(2) Can we erect Bouchots where beds will not flourish?

(3) Can we raise and fatten the mussels more rapidly

on the Bouchots than in the beds ?

‘“‘Tn order to ascertain these points, Mr. Scott and the
Bailiffs in the neighbourhood of Piel should familiarise
themselves as thoroughly as possible with the conditions
of the mussels, young and old, on the different parts of
the beds, and should as far as possible ascertain the rate
of growth on the different parts of different beds. Then
samples of young mussels of different ages, some very
young, others half grown, should be put in the wattling on
the Bouchots, and carefully observed from time to time,
and samples should be opened say once a month in order
to ascertain their condition and rate of growth. In this
way a direct comparison could be instituted between the
Bouchot grown mussels and those on the beds,

85
II. The Lobster Tank.

“The first object ought to be to see whether full grown
lobsters will live healthily in the tank. That is being
ascertained at present. Several lobsters are now in the
tank and are being watched and fed.

“The second point is to determine whether adult lobsters
will breed in the pond, and whether the females ‘in
berry’ will not only live but will manage to keep their
developing embryos alive up to the period of hatching, in
captivity.

‘“ When all that has been ascertained by experiment, I
should recommend that a further very important step be
taken, and that we try to secure and rear the young
lobsters hatched out from the eggs of the adult females.
That I think can be done by placing the parent lobster
for a few days at the time when the young are hatching
out in wire gauze cages from which the young can be
removed and transferred to tanks in the Piel laboratory.
Further experiments will then have to be tried as to the
conditions of water and feeding under which these young
lobsters can be kept healthy and reared in captivity.

III. The Branch Laboratory at Piel.

“Tt seems to me that the most useful purposes to which

this work room can be put are—

(1) to enable Mr. Scott and the Bailiffs to examine in
the fresh condition the samples of mussels and
other shellfish taken from the neighbouring beds.

(2) The tanks under cover in the Laboratory should be
used for rearing the young lobsters when these
have been hatched out in the lobster pond on the
shore.

(3) The Piel laboratory would be suitable for trying
the effect upon living shellfish—oysters, mussels,

36

and cockles—of various fluids, such as fresh-water,
water from docks, and discharges from chemical
works, which are known or supposed to find their
way to the shellfish beds.

(4) I should propose that early next spring, as soon as
the Sea-Fisheries steamer is able to obtain for us
the necessary spawning fish, Mr. Scott should try,
in the Piel laboratory, the same experiments in the
hatching of edible sea-fish which were successfully
carried out last Easter at Port Erin.”

Since this memorandum was prepared, however, a wider
scheme has developed involving the conversion of the —
villa itself into a Marine Laboratory both for Fisheries
Observations and Scientific Research. As the details of
that scheme are now under consideration it would be
premature to discuss them in the present report. I have
no doubt that the results of the work carried on at the
Piel Marine Laboratory will figure largely in our future
reports, and will have an important influence on the
scientific development of the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries.

37

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

PLATE I.

Figure of the Tanks, Water-wheel, and other apparatus
used in the Fish-Hatching experiment at Port Erin.

PuaTeE II.

Fig. 1. Egg of Lemon Sole 18 hours after being fertilised.
Big. 2. $5 - 42 - %

Fig. 3. is s 66 Gs rr

meee ko, 90 he

Fig. 5. ze - 114 s ”

Fig. 6. 53 = 138 - ‘

Fig. 7. ie 3 162 3 ”

Fig. 8. 3 186 03

at the point of hatching.
Fig. 9. Egg of Witch 168 hours after being fertilised ; at
the point of hatching.
ig. 10. Newly hatched Witch, ventral view.

Puate IIT.
Fig. 1. Egg of Witch 18 hours after being fertilised.
Be Oss - 42 “s ”
Higa. * 5, - 66 ” ”
Hit. 4; - 90 He
Bia. 4, gu a4 > %)
Mies Gs | 5; 7 Aes las ‘3 r»

38

ig. 7. Ege of Witch 162 hours after being fertilised.
ISG; 45 " 186 3 rf

Just previous to hatching out.
ig. 9. Ege of Witch 186 hours after being fertilised.
Just previous to hatching out.
ig. 10. Newly hatched Witch, lateral view.

Prats LV.

t.
2
3
4.
i908
6
if
8
9

. LO.

bP)

42
66
90
114
138
162
186
190
190

Egg of Grey Gurnard 18 hours after being fertilised.

APPENDIX.

CATALOGUE

OF THE

SetoreRIES: COLLECTION *

IN THE

ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT,

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL.

NOTE.

The New Museum of Zoology is close to the
Ashton Street Entrance to University College, at the
top of Brownlow Hill. On entering the Museum by
the front door, turn to the right out of the large
main room to reach the smaller room devoted to the

‘** Fisheries Collection.”

41

APPENDIX :—
CATALOGUE of the ‘FISHERIES COLLECTION ”

IN THE
ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL.

Tus ‘‘ Fisheries Collection,’ formed to illustrate the
Sea-Fisheries of Liverpool Bay and the neighbouring
parts of the Irish Sea, was commenced a few years ago
in connection with the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Labora-
tory at University College. It was largely added to for
the purpose of illustrating the Fisheries lectures given,
under the auspices of the Lancashire and Cheshire Sea-
Fisheries Committee, at University College in the summer
of 1895; and by the addition of specimens collected for
the Reports issued upon Oyster and other shell-fish culture.
It has now been re-arranged and catalogued on being
transferred to the new Museum generously given by the
late Mr. George Holt to the Zoological Department of
University College.

In the practical work of forming and arranging the
Collection I have received much help from Mr. Andrew
Scott, Fisheries Assistant to the Committee.

Some of the specimens, photographs and diagrams
have already been used for Fisheries lectures ; and now, in
this more complete condition, in the new building, it is
hoped that the Collection will prove of much service in
connection with lectures, demonstrations, and other forms
of technical instruction both to Fishermen and others.

It is probably as important for the future of Fisheries
investigation and improvement, and of just legislation in
regard to the Fisheries, that the general public should

42

have opportunities of learning and realising the truth in
regard to the habits and life-histories of food fishes, and
the inter-relations of animals in the sea, as it is that the
fisherman himself should be instructed in such matters.

In addition to public lectures, the establishment in
each sea-fisheries district of a technical museum, or collec-
tion illustrating the local fish and fisheries, showing the
spawn and other stages in the life-history of the various
fishes, their foods, their parasites, their diseases, and so
forth, is an important method by which an educated public
opinion upon Fishery questions can be formed. Such a
collection would also be available for consultation on
detailed points by fishermen, fish-salesmen, fishery officers,
and members of Sea-Fisheries Committees in the district ;
and would probably be of interest to fisheries experts
from other parts of the country and from abroad who
may desire information as to our local industries and the
conditions under which they are carried on.

W. A. HERDMAN.

JULY, 1896.

JANUARY, 1897:—This Catalogue is now reprinted,
with some additions and corrections, for the use of the
Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Committee.

W. AE:

43

FISHERIES COLLECTION.

Most of the animals in the sea which form the object
of our Local Fisheries belong to one or other of three
great groups, viz. :—
I. Piscres.—Fishes properly so-called (Cod, Her-
ring, &c.)—Vertebrate or Back-boned animals
with fins and scales, but no shell.

Il. Mouuusca.—Shell-fish—(Oyster, Mussel, &c.)
—Animals with no back-bone and no limbs;
the soft unjointed body is enclosed in a hard
shell.

III. Crustracea.—Legged Shell-fish (Lobster, Crab,
Shrimp, &c.)—Animals with no backbone,
but with legs, feelers, and other limbs; the
jointed body has an outer hard covering.

In addition to these direct objects of the Fisherman’s
work there are many other groups of animals in the sea
which, although not themselves edible, are of very great
importance to the Fishing industries, and must not be
neglected by those who would form a correct opinion on
the feeding and breeding of our marketable fish. Many
of the inedible lower (invertebrate) animals are of immense
importance as the food, or the food of the food, of edible
fish. Others are parasites or act injuriously, directly or
indirectly, at some time in the life-history, upon food
fishes—this includes such cases as the competition between
non-marketable fish such as the Solenette and marketable
fish of similar habits.

44

The arrangement of the series of specimens in this
collection is as follows :—

A.

B.

K.

M.

The Series of Fishes of the district—whether
edible or not.

Series showing the Reproductive Organs, the
Spawn, and the young stages in the develop-
ment and life-history of Fishes from the Egg
onwards.

Series of Foods of various fishes, both young and
old.

Series of Fish Parasites—internal and external.

Other Enemies of Fishes.

Collection showing Diseases or abnormal condi-
tions of Fishes.

Collection of Edible Shell-fish of our district.

Collection illustrating Oyster culture in France,
Holland and other countries.

Collection of Edible Crustacea.

Collection of Sea-bottoms and other submarine
deposits.

Collection of Natural Baits used in the Fisheries.

Collection of Models of fishing implements, of

apparatus for fish culture, and hatching, and of
shell-fish cultivation.

Series of Photographs and Lantern Slides illus-
trating the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries District.

Collection illustrating the Regulations of Sea-
Fisheries Committees and other Authorities.

45

A.—Collection of Fishes of the District, arranged
Zoologically.

Class :—PISCES.—THE TRUE FISHES.

The Fishes are back-boned animals, living in water,
with cold blood, and breathing by means of gills placed
at the sides of the throat; the limbs are in the form of
fins, and the skin is generally covered with scales; a row
of sense-organs along each side of the body forms a
conspicuous ‘‘ lateral line.”’

With the exception of the Mud-fishes (Dipnoi) which
are not marine, and do not occur in Kurope, all the great
eroups (Teleostei, Ganoidei, Elasmobranchii and Cyclo-
stomata) are represented in our district. Some members
of all the groups of fishes are edible, but by far the most
important groups from the economic point of view are
the Teleostei and the Elasmobranchu, and especially the
former.

Sub-class I.—TELEOSTEI.—THE BONY
FISHES.

With well developed jaws, fins, and scales; with a
bony skeleton, having completely formed vertebre, no
spiral valve in the intestine, tail evenly lobed externally,
cills free on gill arches underneath a gill cover; air bladder
generally present.

Order ACANTHOPTERYGII.

With stiff, unjointed spines in the fins; the air
bladder has no duct,

46

Family SPARIDZ.
Pagellus centrodontus, De la Roche (Day,* vol. L., p. 36,
pl. XIII.). The common sea bream.
Family Corrib”.
Cottus scorpius, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 49, pls. XIX. and
XX.). he sea-scorpion.
Cottus bubalis, Kuphrasen (Day, vol. I., p. 51, pl. XX.).
The father lasher.
Trigla hirundo, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 59, pl. XXIV.).
The yellow gurnard.
Trigla gurnardus, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 62, pl. XXV.).
The common gurnard.
Family CATAPHRACTI.
Agonus cataphractus, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 67, pl.
XXVIII.). The pogge.
Family PEDICULATI.
Lophius piscatorius, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 73, pl.
XXIX.). Angler or devil-fish.
Family TRACHINIDZ.
Trachinus vipera, Cuv. (Day, vol. I., p. 81, pl. XXXTI_).
Lesser weever or sting-fish.
Family ScoMBRIDA.
Scomber scomber, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 83, pl. XXXII.
and XXXITI.). The mackerel.
Family Cy?Trip2.
Zeus faber, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 188, pl. XUVIIL).
The John Dory.
Family GosrpDZ.
Gobius ruthensparri, Kuphy. (Day, vol. I., p. 160, pl.
LII.). The two-spotted goby.

* Under each species a reference is given to the vol., page, and plate in
Day’s Fishes of Great Britain, the work most generally consulted on the
subject,

47

Gobius minutus, Gmel. (Day, vol. 1., p. 165, pl. LIL).
The freckled goby.
Gobius quadrimaculatus, Cuv. and Val. (Day, vol. L.,
p. 168, pl. LIII.). The four-spotted goby.
Family CALLIONYMID.
Callionymus lyra, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 174, pl. LIV.).
The dragonet.
Family DiscoBo.li.
Cyclopterus lumpus, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 180, pl. LY.).
Lump-sucker or hen-fish.
Inparis vulgaris, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 184, pl. LVI).
The sea snail.
Iiparis montagui, Donovan, (Day, vol. I., p. 184, pl.
LVI.). Diminutive lump-sucker.
Family GOBIESOCID.
Lepadogaster gowamit, Lacép. (Day, vol. I., p. 189, pl.
LVII.). The cornish sucker.
Lepadogaster bimaculatus, Donovan (Day, vol. I., p.
192, pl. LVII.). The doubly-spotted sucker.
Family BLENNIID#.
Blennius pholis, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 208, pl. LX.).
The shanny.
Blennius ocellaris, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 201, pl. LIX.).
The butterfly blenny.
Carelophus ascaniit, Walbaum (Day, vol. I., p. 206, pl.
LX.). Yarrell’s blenny.
Centronotus gunnellus, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 208, pl.
LXI.). The butter-fish.
Family GASTEROSTEIDZ.
Gasterosteus spinachia, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 246, pl.
-LXVUL). The fifteen-spined stickleback.
Family LABRIDZ.
Labrus mixtus, Fries och Ekstrom (Day, vol. I., p. 256,
pl. LXXIT.). The cook wrasse,

48

.Centrolabrus exoletus, Linn. (Day, vol I., p. 267, pl.
LXXVI.). The rock cook.

Order ANACANTHINI.

There are no spines; the fin rays are soft, and
jointed; the ventral fins if present are far forward; the
air bladder if present has no duct.

Family Gapipa—the Cod family.
One of the most important families of fishes from the
economic point of view.

Gadus morrhua, Linn. (Day,vol I., p. 275, pl. UX XVIIT.).

The cod—probably the most useful of all fish to
man. No part of the body seems valueless. In
addition to its prime importance as a food, oil is
extracted from the liver, the head, tongue and sounds
can be made to form a good article of food, the offal
and bones when steamed, dried and ground up are
converted into very good manure said to be equal as
a fertilizer to Peruvian guano, the roe is a splendid
bait used in the sardine fisheries of France and Spain,
and from the swim-bladder isinglass is made.

Gadus eglefinus, Linn. (Day, vol. I, p. 288, pl.

LXXIX.). The haddock.

Gadus minutus, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 288, pl LXXXI.).

The power cod.

Gadus merlangus, Linn. (Day, vol. I, p. 290, pl.

LXXXII.). The whiting.

Gadus luscus, Willughby (Day, vol. I., p. 286, pl. LXXX.).

The bib.

Gadus pollachius, Linn. (Day, vol. L, p. 296, pl.

LXXXITI.). The pollack.

Merluccius vulgaris, Cuv. (Day, vol. I., p. 300, pl.

LXXXV.). The hake,

49

. Molva vulgaris, Flem. (Day, vol. I., p. 204, pl.

LXXXVI.). The ling.

Lota vulgaris, Cuv. (Day, vol. I., p. 308, pl. LXXXVIL.).

The burbot.

Motella mustela, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 814, pl.

LXXXVIIT.). The five-bearded rockling.

Family OpHIDIIDa.
Ammodytes lanceolatus, Lesauv. (Day, vol. I., p. 329,
pl. XCII.). The greater sand-eel.
Ammodytes tobianus, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 331, pl.
XCII.). The lesser sand-eel.
Family PLEURONECTIDa—the flat fishes.

A very important family of food fishes. The
symmetry is so disturbed in the adult that both eyes
are placed on one, the coloured, side of the body, which
is uppermost as the fish les on the sea-bottom.

Hippoglossoides limandoides (Day, vol. IIL., p. 9, pl.

XCV.). Long rough dab.

Rhombus maximus, Linn (Day, vol. IL, p. 11, pl.

XCVI.). . The turbot.

Rhombus levis, Rondel. (Day, vol. II., p. 14, pl.

XCVII.). The brill or brett.

Rhombus norvegicus, Gunther (Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin.,
vol, XV. (1889), p: 217; pl. LV., fig..C.).

The Norway top-knot.

Zeugopterus unimaculatus, Risso (Day, vol. IL., p. 16,
pl. XCIX.). Bloch’s topknot.

Zeugopterus punctatus, Bloch (Day, vol. II., p. 18,
pl. C.). Muller’s topknot.

Arnoglossus megastoma, Donovan (Day, vol. IL., p. 21,
pl. XCVIIL.). The sail fluke.

Arnoglossus laterna, Walb. (Day, vol. IL., p. 22, pl.

XCIX). The megrim.

Pleuronectes platessa, Linn. (Day, vol. II., p. 26, pl.

CI.). The plaice.

50

Pleuronectes microcephalus, Donovan (Day, vol. ITI.,

p. 28, pl. CII.). Lemon-sole.

Pleuronectes cynoglossus, Linn. (Day, vol. IIL., p. 30,
pl. CIII.). The witch.

Pleuronectes limanda, Linn. (Day, vol. IL, p. 31,
pl. CIY.). The dab.

Pleuronectes flesus, Linn. (Day, vol. II., p. 38, Pl.
CV.). The flounder. b,

Solea vulgaris, Quensel (Day, vol. II., p. 38, pl. CVL.).
The sole. 5

Solea variegata, Donovan (Day, vol. II., p. 48, pl.
CVIII.). The variegated sole.

Solea lutea, Risso (Day,. vol. II., p. 44, pl. CVIIL.).
The solenette.

Order PHYSOSTOMI.

Fin rays jointed, ventral fins, if present, far back ;

air bladder, if present, has a duct.

Family SALMONID&.

Argentina sphyrena, Linn. (Day, vol. IL., p. 186, pl.
CXXV.).

[Fresh water Salmonide omitted].
Family SCOMBRESOCIDA.
Belone vulgaris, Willughby (Day, vol. II., p. 147, pl.
CXXVII.). The garfish.
Family CLupPEIDa, the Herring tribe.
A very important family of food fishes.
Glupea harengus, Linn. (Day, vol. I1., p. 208, pl.
CXXXVIII.). The herring.
Clupea: sprattus, Linn. (Day, vol. IL. p. 280, pil.
CXXXIX.). - The sprat.
Family MuR#NIDz
Anguilla vulgaris, Turt. (Day, vol. II., p. 241, pl.
CXLII.). The eel.

51

Conger vulgaris, Cuv. (Day, vol. II., p. 250, pl. CXLIT.).
The conger.

Order LOPHOBRANCHII.

Strong bony plates covering surface; with a long
snout having the small toothless mouth at its end; gills
in little tufts; air bladder with no duct.

Family SYNGNATHIDA—pipe fishes.
Siphonostoma typhle, Linn. (Day, vol. II., .p. 257,
pl. CXLIV.). The broad-nosed pipe fish.
Syngnathus acus, Linn. (Day, vol. II., p. 259, pl.
CXLIV.). The great pipe-fish.
Nerophis lumbriciformis, Willughby (Day, vol. IT., p. 263,
pl. XLIV.). The worm pipe-fish.

Sub-class IJ.—GANOIDEI.

With bony plates on the surface of the body. One
actual gill opening on each side under gill cover. Aur
bladder with duct. Spiral valve.

Family AcIPENSERIDA.
Acipenser sturio, Linn. (Day, vol. I., p. 280, pl. CL.).
The sturgeon.

Sub-class H1.—EKLASMOBRANCHII.
SHARKS, DoGFIsH, RAYS AND SKATES.

With a cartilaginous skeleton and an unevenly lobed
tail. The gills are in separate pouches opening by separate
gill slits on the sides or lower surface of the throat, there
is no gill cover; no air bladder. The eggs are large and
few in number. The large mouth, armed with numerous
teeth, is on the lower surface of a prominent snout.

52

Family CarcHARIIDEZ—Sharks.
Galeus vulgaris, Flem. (Day, vol. II., p. 292, pl. CLIIL.).
The tope.
Mustelus vulgaris, Muller and Henle (Day, vol. IL.,
p. 295, pl. CLYV.). The smooth-hound.
Family Lamnipa—Doefish.
Lamna cornubica, Gmel. (Day, vol. II., p. 297, pl.
CLVI.). The Porbeagle or Beaumaris shark.
Family ScyLLimp#.
Scyllium cancula, Linn. (Day, vol. IL., p. 809, pl.
CLIX.). The spotted dog-fish.
Pristiurus melanostomus, Rafin. (Day, vol. IL., p. 314,
pl. CLX.). The black-mouthed dog-fish.
Family SPINACIDA.
Acanthias vulgaris, Risso. (Day, vol. IL., p. 315, pl.
CLX.). The picked-dog.
Family RHINIDA.
Rhina squatina, Linn. (Day, vol. IL, p. 326, pl.
CLXIII.). Angel-fish or Monk.
Family Ratp#—the Skates.
Raia batis, Linn. (Day, vol. II., p. 386, pl. CLXVI.),
The blue skate.
‘ Rava clavata, Linn. (Day, vol. II., p. 343, pl. CLXXI.).
The thornback.
fava maculata, Moutagu (Day, vol. IL., p. 345, pl.
CLXXII.). The spotted-ray.
Raia radiata, Donovan (Day, vol. IL, p.- 347) aoe
CLXXITI.). The starry-ray.
fiaia circularis, Couch (Day,vol.I1., p.848, pl. CLXXIYV.).
The cuckoo-ray.

Sub-class IV.—CYCLOSTOMATA.

Mouth sucker-like, skeleton cartilaginous, no complete

53

vertebre in back bone, no ribs and no developed jaws, no
limb-fins ; gills in separate sacks on sides of body.
Family Perromyzontipa, Lampreys.
Petromyzon fluviatilis, Linn. (Day, vol. IT., p. 359, pl.
CLXXXIX.). Silver lamprey.

B.—Series showing the Reproductive Organs, the Spawn,
and the young stages in the development and life-
history of some fishes from the Egg onwards.

B. I. Serres oF OVARIES AND TESTES (hard and soft roe).

1. Ovaries (hard roe) of mature whiting (Gadus
merlangus).

2. Testes (soft roe) of mature whiting.

3. Ovaries (hard roe) of mature haddock (Gadus
eglefinus).

4. Testes (soft roe) of mature haddock.

5. Ovaries of mature herring (Clupea harengus).

6. Testes of mature herring.

7. Ovary and oviducts of skate (Raia batis).

8. Dissection of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) show-
ing Immature reproductive organs.

9. Dissection of plaice showing mature repro-
ductive organs.

B. Il. Serres oF MATURE OVARIAN HGGS.

1. Eggs from the ovary of cod (Gadus morrhua).
2. 3 - whiting (G. merlangus).

3. i is haddock (G@. @glefinius).

A, 4 “ hake (Merluccius vulgaris).
5. a = erey gurnard (Trigla gur-

nardus).

6.
be

9)

54

Eggs from the ovary of blenny (Blennius, sp.).

lumpsucker (Cyclopterus
lunypus).

sole (Solea vulgaris).

plaice (Plewronectes pla-
tessa).

~dab (P. limanda).

lemon sole (P. micro-
cephalus).

witch (P. cynoglossus).

flounder (P. flesus).

topknot (Zeugopterus
wunimaculatus).

SERIES OF DEMERSAL Eaas—those that are
found on the sea-bottom.

Eges of blenny (Blennius, sp.).

eoby (Gobius minutus).
lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus).

herring (Clupea harengus).

skate (Raia batis).

skate (Raza sp. ?).

small spotted dogfish (Scylliumcanicula).
nurse-hound (Scylliwm catulus).

SERIES oF PELAGIC EKaes—those that float in

the water.

. Gathering from tow-net. ‘‘ Hole.” March, 1896.

oe

” ”

Off the Calf, January,
1893. |

Off Morecambe Bay Lt.
Ship, March, 1895,

55

B. V. Series oF Drvenopinc Empryos (inside the

ege-covering) of some food fishes. Hatched
at Port Erin, April, 1896.

. Embryos of lemon sole (Plewronectes micro-

cephalus) : 66 hours.

. Embryos of lemon sole (Pleuronectes . micro-

cephalus): 96 hours.
: EZ

9 )” 9)

4. Newly hatched lemon soles (Plewronectes micro-

OOAADKN

DOONAN Pw DD

. Newly hatched witches ,,
. Ovaof grey gurnard (T'rigla gurnardus) : 66 hours.

cephalus).

. Ovaof witch (Pleuronectes cynoglossus) : 66 hours.

168s *,;

9

ae eee

) 9

. Embryo skate (Raia batis).

SERIES OF LARVAL FISHES.

. Larvee of lemon sole (Pleuronectes microcephalus).

witch (Pleuronectes cynoglossus).
Goby (Gobius minutus).
plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).

9)
9

tb)

SERIES OF POST-LARVAL AND YOUNG FISHES.

. Young plaice (Plewronectes platessa) from + inch

to 3 inches in length.

. Young cod (Gadus morrhua).
. Young lumpsucker, (Cyclopterus lumpus).
. Young yellow gurnard (Trigla hirundo).

Young herring (Clupea harengus).
Young worm-pipe fish (Nerophis lumbriciformis).

. Young butter-fish (Centronotus gunnellus).
. Young sea snail (Liparis, sp. ?).
. Young solenette (Solea lutea).

56
C.—Series of Foods of various fishes, both young and old.
C. I. Foops FOUND IN THE STOMACHS OF ADULT FISHES.

1. Food from stomach of cod (Gadus morrhua).

2. * ,, whiting (Gadus merlangus).
3. 5 ,, herring (Clupea harengus).
4, > ,, dragonet(Callionymus lyra).
5. <5 5, pogge (Agonus cataphractus).
6. bi ,, plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).
iz 3 5, dab (Pleuronectes limanda).
8, 3 ,, solenette (Solea lutea).

C. Il. Foops From STOMACHS OF YOUNG FISHES.

1. Food from the stomach of Plaice (23 inch).

2 Py i 45 (22. eke

3. if se # (small).

4, ae M - (small).

5 fr a Dab (2 inches).

6 = - Flounder (53 inches).
is e ss Sole (44 inches).

C. III. ANIMALS AND PLANTS WHICH ARE IMPORTANT
FisH Foops IN ouR DISTRICT.

CrusTacEA. 1. Spider crab (Hyas coarctatus). Food

of cod, gurnard, skate.

2. Shore crab (Carcinus mcanas). Food
of cod, skate.

3. Swimming crab (Portunus depurator).
Food of cod, whiting, haddock, dab,
skate.

4. Hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus).
Food of cod, whiting, haddock, dab,
skate.

CRUSTACEA.

Mo.Luvsca.

K

LS.

14,

o.

57

Larval crabs (various species). Food
of many young fishes.

. Shrimp (Crangon vulgaris). Food of

cod, whiting, haddock, gurnard, brill,
sole, plaice, &c.

. Shank (Pandalus annulicornis). Food

of cod.

. Crayfish (Nephrops norvegicus). Food

of skate, &e.

. Fairy shrimp (Mysis vulgaris). Food

of cod, whiting, gurnard.

. Boreophausia raschit. Food of her-

ring, &c.

. Isopods (Idotea sp.). Food of cod,

whiting, plaice.

. Sand hoppers (Gammarus sp.). Food

of cod, whiting, gurnard, sole, plaice,
skate.

Cumacea (Diastylis sp.). Food of
cod, whiting, gurnard, sole, solenette,
plaice.

Copepoda (various species). Food of
very many young fishes; Herring also
feed largely upon copepoda and schizo-
poda.

. Tellina balthica.

Food of Plaice, Dab.

. Scrobicularia alba.

Food of Haddock, Plaice, Dab.

. Mactra stultorum, and M. elliptica.

Food of Haddock, Plaice, Dab,
Flounder.

. Donax anatina.

Food of Plaice.

58
~ Monuusca. 5. Philine aperta.
Food of Haddock, Plaice, Dab.
6. Mussels (Mytilus edulis).
Food of Plaice, Dab.
7. Cockles (Cardiwm edule),
Food of Plaice, Dab.
8. Nudibranchs (Doris sp.),
Food of Dab.
_ EcHINOpDERMATA. 1. Sand stars (Ophioglypha albida),
Food of Dab, Gurnard, Had-
dock.
2. Brittle stars (Ophiothrix fragilis),
Food of Cod.
3. Hchinocyamus pusillus,
Food of Haddock.
4, Holothurians,
Food of Cod.
ANNELIDA. 1. Rock worm (Nereis sp.),
Food of Sole, Lemon Sole, Plaice,
Dab, Flounder, Skate.
2. Lug worm (Arenicola piscatorum),
Food of Flat fishes.
Empryos and Larva, of Various Animals. Food of
many very young fishes.
Puants. 1. Diatoms,
Food of some very young fishes: -
2. Algee,
Food of some Flat fishes.

59

“D.—Collection of Fish parasites.

D. I. INTERNAL PARASITES.

i

Oe SO Sr. Ge ie

9.
10.

Nematode Worms from the. body cavity of the
Cod (Gadus morrhua).

Pe », Whiting (Gadus merlangus).
‘ », herring (Clupea harengus).

4a 5, sprat (Clupea spratta).

rr », pogge (Agonus cataphractus).
i, 5, Sea-scorpion (Cottus scorpius).
= 5, plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).
o », dab (Pleuronectes limanda).
‘5 ,, dog-fish (Scylliwm canicula).

Tape worm from a Salmon (Salmo salar) caught
in the Dee.

D. Il. ExtTernAt PARASITES.

ite
2.
3.

10.

Li 5

Caligus rapax, from the cod (Gadus morrhua).

Caligus curtus, a a

Lepeoptheirus pectoralis, from the plaice (Pleur-
onectes platessa), &c.

. Lepeoptheirus hippoglossi, from the Holibut.
. Lerneonema spratta, from the eye of the sprat

(Clupea spratta).

. Lernea branchialis, from the gills of cod, &e.
. Chondracanthus merluccii, from the gills of the

hake (Merluccius vulgaris).

. Chondracanthus lophii, from the angler fish

(Lophius piscatorius).

. Lerneopoda galei, from the dog-fish (Seylliam

canicula).
Lerneopoda elongata, from the eye of the
Greenland Shark (Iceland, R. L. Ascroft).
Anchorella uncinata, from the cod, &e,

60

12. Pontobdella muricata (the skate leech), from
skate.
13. Myzxine glutinosa, hag fish.

E.—Collection of other enemies to Fish.

. Voracious fish, example the angler (Lophius).

f “s dog-fish (Scylliwm).
. Sea-birds, example the Cormorant
Sea-mammal, example the porpoise (Phocena).

oR Go DOH

. Arrow-worm (Sagitta): (eats larval fishes).

F.—Collection showing diseases or abnormal conditions
of Fishes.
1. Reversed solenette.
2 #4 sole.
3 flounder.
4. Dab with tumours on colourless side.
5. Trout with abnormal tail.
6. Salnon attacked by fungus (Saprolegnia fexaz).

61
G.—Collection of Edible Shell-fish.

G. I. Cockues (Cardium edule).

a. Marketable Cockles of our district.
1. Sample from Hilbre.

2. ” Hoyle Bank.

3. - Crosby.

4, + Southport.

Di St. Annes.

6. 3 Fleetwood.

t a Cockerham Sands.

8. ae Morecambe.

9. - Grange over Sands.
10. 3 Flookburgh Sands.
le Baicliff.

12. a Duddon.
b. Series of young cockles from $th to 1 inch in
length.

c. Pair of cockles showing over and just under
marketable size, 2 inches by 3 inch.

d. Brown cockles from Duddon cockle beds. The
colour is due to an oxide of iron.

e. Cockles with tuft of Alga attached to the posterior
margin of the shell, which lies uppermost in
the sand.

f. Large cockles from the Barra Beds, Scotland.

G. II. Mussrezs (Mytilus edulis).

a. Marketable Mussels of our district.
1. Sample from Hilbre.

2. i Hoyle Bank.
3. 8 Wallasey.

4. ys Southport.

5. 3 St. Annes.

d.

G.I.

62

6. Sample from Sunderland Point.
Ws oe Morecambe.
8. 3 Humphrey Head.
3) a Roosebeck Scars.
LG: i Barrow Channel.
11. a Barrow Rock.
12. oe Duddon (Scarfhole).

. Series of young mussels ranging — 4th inch

to 1 inch in length.

. Pair of mussels just over and just under market-

able size (24 inch).
Clump of Mussels showing attachment by
‘“‘byssus,”’ as in beds.

. Young mussels attached to the abdominal

appendages (swimmerets) of the common
lobster (from H. Isaac,.Esq.).

OystTERS (Ostrea edulis).

. Natives from different parts of our own district.

1. Bangor.

2. Off Morecambe Bay Ship.

3. Port Erin.

4. Irish Sea.

5. Fleetwood Deep Sea Oysters.

. Other British oysters.

a

. Colchester natives (from the Peeltcent
Roach River natives.

Whitstable natives.

Arklows from Ireland.

5. Pandores from Firth of Forth.

Rock oyster from West coast of Scotland.

i Cer

=

. Foreign European oysters.

1. French oysters from Arcachon.
2. b e Cancale.

om wD

ee a

10.

63
French oysters from Marennes.

) 9)

Italian oysters from Lake Fusaro.
9) ) ”)
Dutch oysters from Ierseke, Zeeland.
v9 ” Pe]
Belgian oysters from Nieuport.
Portuguese oysters (Ostrea angulata),
grown at Arcachon, &e.

d. American oysters (Ostrea virginica).

Blue points.

2. Hast Rivers.

So ee et Oe Oe

Sounds.

American oysters bedded at Fleetwood.
9 Fr in Menai Straits.
” 5 at Carlingford.
» y at Cleethorpes.
* _ at Brightlingsea.

Young American oysters on sole of old
rubber shoe (from 'T’. G. Musson, Esq.).

G. IV. OTHER SHELL-FISH OCCASIONALLY, OR LOCALLY,
USED FOR Foon.

a. In this country :—

i
2.

aS

The borer, Pholas crispata.

The gapers, Mya truncata and Mya
arenaria.

The razor-fish, Solen siliqua.

Lutrarva elliptica.

Cyprina islandica.

Pectunculus glycimeris.

The horse mussel, Mytilus modiolus.

The large scallop, Pecten maximus.

64

. The common scallop or queen, Pecten

opercularis.

. The himpet, Patella vulgata.

. The ear-shell, Haliotis tuberculata.
. The periwinkle, Littorina littorea.

. The soft whelk, Buccinwm undatum.
14.

The hard whelk, Fusus antiquus.

b. In other countries :—
(In addition to the above)

. Venus mercenaria, (American ‘‘ Clam’’).
. Venus verrucosa (French ‘‘ La Praire’’).
. Tapes decussata (French “ La Clovisse’’).
. Tapes pullastra (French ‘‘ Palourde’’).

Donaz vittatus(French ‘‘Petite Clovisse’’).

. Iithodomus lithophagus (French ‘‘ La

Datte de Mer’’).

. Various species of Cephalopoda (French

“Le Poulpe,” ‘La Pieuvre,” “ La
Seiche,”’ &c.)

65

H.—Collection illustrating Oyster and Mussel Culture
in France, Holland and other Countries.

H. I. Oystrer CULTURE AT ARCACHON (south of France).

i

10.

Hele

Pieces of tile used as Collectors of Spat, show-
ing the thickness of the limy covering.

. Two tiles covered with the limy layer ready

for placing in the pares as collectors.

. Model of the ‘‘ gabaret”’ or case of collecting

tiles.

. Two tiles covered with young spat.
. Two tiles covered with young oysters 1 year

old.

. Series of specimens of young Ostrea edulis

(common Oyster) 1 year old.

. Series of specimens of young Ostrea edulis

(common Oyster) 2 years old.

. Series of specimens of Ostrea edulis (common

Oyster) 3 years old.

. Series of specimens of young Ostrea angulata

(the Portuguese Oyster) 1 year old.

Series of specimens of young Ostrea angulata
(the Portuguese Oyster) 2 years old.

Series of specimens of Ostrea angulata (the
Portuguese Oyster) 3 years old.

2. Series of photographs of the oyster culture

at Arcachon.

H. II. Oyster CuLture AT IERSEKE, ZEELAND, HOL-

i

2.
3,

LAND. (From Mr. Harmelen, Ierseke.)

Map of the Ooster Scheldt showing position
of Oyster beds.

Photographs of the Oyster culture at Ierseke.

Two tiles with young oysters in first year,

Tata 1D;

10.

66

. Two tiles with young oysters in second year.
. Two tiles after ‘‘ detroquage

«
9

or separation
of the young oyster from the tile.

. Series of young oysters a few months old

adhering to various shells.

. Series of young oysters 1 year old.
. Series of young oysters 2 years old.

Series of marketable Dutch oysters.
Series of very large old Dutch oysters.

OystER REARING AND FATTENING AT MAR-

ie
2.
o.

4,

ENNES, in west of France.

Series of green oysters from Marennes.

Photographs of the ‘‘ Claires” at Marennes.

Specimens of the vegetation from the Claires
(consisting of Cladophora and other Algee
covered with Diatoms, &c.).

Specimens of the deposit from the floor of
the Claires.

DISEASED CONDITIONS, AND [JXPERIMENTS ON

OYSTERS AND OTHER SHELL-FISH.

. Oysters shells eaten into by the Sponge

Cliona celata.

. Oyster shells completely buried in the Sponge.
. Oyster shells with mud between lamin of

shell.

4. Injured oyster shells.

Or

. American oyster from Fleetwood suffering

from the green disease.

. A normal healthy green Marennes oyster for

comparison with the last.

. Oysters which have been trephined in order to

investigate the green disease,

67

. Oysters kept in Copper solutions.

. Oysters kept in Iron solutions.

. Shell perforated by a boring Mollusc.

. Weak and deformed shells.

. Fresh water Mussels showing erosion of shell.

te ,, showing formation of pearls.

H. V. MusseEL CuLtuRE ABROAD.

Eb, VI:

1

3

4,

5

Illustrations of the Bouchot system at the
Bay of Aiguillon on west coast of France.
Illustrations of the vertical system in Bay of

Spezia, Italy.
Mud from Mussel bouchots at Charrons.
Model of Mussel bouchot.
Mussel adhering by its byssus.

Our MussEL BEDs.

. Chart of district showing mussel beds.
. Sample of mud from bed between Scarfhole

and Duddon.

. Sample of mud from bed north side of Scarf-

hole, near Barrow.

. Sample of mud from bed south side of Scarf-

hole, near Barrow.

. Sample of mud from Walney side, upper end

of Scarfhole.

. Sample of mud from Head Scar, Barrow

Channel.

. Sample of mud from Foulney bed, near Piel.

Sample of mud from Roosebeck outer Scars,
near Piel.

Sample of mud from bed between Roosebeck
and Baicliff.

68 —

10. Sample of mud from Baiclhiff Scars, near
Mort bank.

11. Sample of mud from Morecambe beds.

12. Sample of mud from Big Ford, River Wyre.

13. 3 » Green Scar, e:

Le 9 je © OEE; 3

15. 9 » Hamill Point, x

UG. ,, Lighthouse Scar, St.Annes.
ibe Er » Lower Beds, _

18. . », Church Scar, <

19. ” » Wallasey Bed.

20. rs ,» Wgremont Bed.

I.— Collection of Edible Crustacea.

Common crab (Cancer pagurus).

Lobster (Homarus vulgaris).

Sea Crayfish or Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus).
Spiny Lobster (Palinurus vulgaris).

Shrimp (Crangon vulgaris).

Shank (Pandalus annalicorinis).

Prawn (Palemon serratus).

Ke) L

Ke Tt.

69

K.— Collection of Sea-bottoms.

TypPIcAL SUBMARINE DrEposItTs.

1. Terrigenous.
a. Gravel.
b. Sand.
c. Mud.
2. Neritic.
a. Nullipore.
b. Shells.
c. Shell sand.
d. Coral sand.
3. Pelagic or Planktonic.
a. Globigerina ooze.
b. Radiolarian ooze.
c. Diatom ooze.

SUBMARINE DEPOSITS OF THE IRISH SEA.
1. Terrigenous.

a. Gravel from Bradda Head.

b. Sand from Liverpool Bar.

c. Mud from deep Channel.

d. Sand from Bahama Bank.

e. Sand from King William Bank.
2. Neritic.

a. Nullipore from off Dalby.

b. Shell sand from off Spanish Head.

c. Shell sand from off Calf of Man.
3. Model of Floor of Irish Sea.

70

L.— Collection of Natural Fishing Baits.

. The Lug worm (Arenicola piscatorum), used for the

small lines, especially for flat fish.

. The Rock worm (Nereis versicolor), used for the long

lines.

. The soft whelk (Buccinum wndatum), used for the

long lines, especially for large Cod.

. The Crab (Carcinus manas), used for the long lines

for all kinds of fish.

. The Mussel (Mytilus edulis), used for the small lines

for all kinds of fish.

. The Scallop (Pecten opercularis), used for the long

lines, especially for Haddock and Cod.

. The Squid (Loligo vulgaris), used for the long lines,

especially for Cod.

. The Sand-Eel (Ammodytes tobianus), used for small

lines, especially good for Whiting.

. The Conger (Conger vulgaris), for all kinds of large

fish.

. The Sea Anemone (Actinoloba dianthus).
. The Sprat (Clupea spratta), used for both long and

small lines for all kinds of fish.

. The Cockle (Cardiwm edule), used chiefly for the small

lines for all kinds of fish.

. The Horse Mussel (Mytilus modiolus), used chiefly

for the small lines for all kinds of fish, good for
Codlings.

. The Limpet (Patella vulgata), used chiefly for the

small lines, good for Haddock.

. The Razor Fish (Solen siliqgua), used for long and

small lines for all kinds of fish.

71

M.—Collections of Models of fishing implements, and
of apparatus, &c., for fish culture and shell-fish

cultivation.
1. Water wheel for keeping hatching tank in con-
stant motion.
2. Model of Capt. Dannevig’s Sea-fish Hatchery
in Norway (on loan, from J. W. Woodall, Esq.)
3. Model of a Dutch Oyster farm.
4, * a ‘‘ bouchot’’ for mussel culture.
5 “3 the Irish Sea, showing Lancashire Sea-
Fisheries District, Spawning grounds, &e.
6. Model of Fish Trawl.
ts - Otter Trawl.
8. 5 Shrimp Trawl.
Sa Shrimp shank net.
10. he Shrimp shank net, with raised beam
to prevent capture of small food fish (with
Mr. Dawson’s drawing and description).
11. Model of Shrimp push net.

W2:
lise
14.

15.
16.
hd.
18:

’

Cockle ‘‘ Rake,’’ ‘“‘ Craam,” and ‘‘ Jumbo.”
Mussel ‘‘ Rake.”’
Portion of Deep Sea Cod line, Cod and other
fish hooks, Cod line buoys.
Model of Dredge.
BS Tow-net.
Set of Sieves, Collecting bottles, tubes, &c.
Zoologists’ Deck table, for microscope work

(Prof. Herdman’s pattern).

N.—Series of Photographs and Lantern slides, illustrating
the methods of Fishing, the Fish, the Marine
Fauna, &c., of the Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Dis-
trict.

72

0.— Collection illustrating the Regulations of Sea-Fish-
eries Committees and other Authorities.

1. Series of samples of nets on frames showing
meshes of 4, 43, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 inches in
circumference.

2. Series of gauges for measuring fish trawl nets,
stake nets, shrimp nets, drift nets, sparling
nets, lobsters and crabs, oysters, mussels and
cockles.

3. Series of Models showing the sizes at which it
is proposed the chief edible fishes should be
marketable according to :—

a. Select Committee of House of Commons
and Board of Trade Bill; Soles and
Plaice 8 inches, Brill and Turbot 10
inches.

b. National Sea-Fisheries Protection Asso-
ciation; Brill and Turbot 12 inches,
Soles and Plaice 10 inches.

c. Resolution of Liverpool Fish Sales-
men; Brill and Turbot 14 inches,
Plaice, Lemon Soles and Witch 10
inches, Soles 9 inches.

d. Biological basis (7.e., sexual maturity) ;
Soles 12 inches, Plaice 17 inches, Brill
15 inches, Turbot 18 inches, Lemon
Soles 12 inches.

e. Present law in Belgium; Soles and Plaice
7°2 inches, Brill and Turbot 10 inches.

f. Present law in Denmark ; Plaice 10 inches
and Brill 132, Turbot 8 inches, Sole 114,
Dab 7, and Witch 7.

g. Present law in France; Soles and Plaice
54 inches.

10.

Ly.

12.

73

. Models showing legal and illegal sizes of Crabs,

&e.

. Series showing varies sizes of edible crab from

1 inch to 4 inches.

. Model of Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Steamer

‘john Hell”

. Model of Lancashire Sea-Fisheries Police Sail-

ing cutters.

. Photographs of the Fishing steamers, Police

boats, and Fishing boats.

. Copies of the Bye-laws of the Lancashire Sea-

Fisheries District.

Copies of the Superintendent’s Quarterly Re-
ports, of the Annual Reports of the Sea-
Fisheries Laboratory, and other papers
showing results of investigations and experi-
ments in the District.

Copies of Fishery Officers’ Monthly Reports,
Diaries, &c.

Copies of L.M.B.C. Reports on “ Fauna of
Liverpool Bay.”

tna fe

y if ;
ra a 7
ao 7
oh .
‘ f *% a =
- ri - .
in ' -
. - a
“ «
i oo one
as
.
my 7M ~
= th *
|
#
god
ety,
= ~
¢ 4 ke. ~ (
”
»?
; | \\ c
- yen
e ey
si a ' ! ‘ 1 . «

=

‘ . = Ans ve ’ a a :
eee ee ee eee ee a

SS a a 7 SS =

ae

Nt

“| oye ld

stele

y)

Plate il.

A. Scott, del.

LEMON SOLE AND WITCH.

Plate Wl,

WITCH.

Plate IV. i

=)

wi
raw

A, Scott, del.
GREY GURNARD.

SS =
SPSS tte ee

t roa
OF oes te

Ba ft. ae
Piaens o eee

3, Ab
peau!
5; Le

2 a ee
= ST a

4,

4 a
aR epee <b, 3

une

3 2044

.
e
=
"
Tf.
>a

"3 -

v

ore Me ys ey Ee

.

4

»