For the sake of argument I will suppose:

I. That in a biologically self-contained area, e.g. in the North Sea, statistics show that the value of the total yearly catch of a certain species of fish is decreasing year by year;

II. That the catching power and the prices are not reduced;

III. That the physical conditions have not changed in an unfavourable manner.

In the present paper I propose to give a brief account of the larvse of two species of Crangonidæ—Cheraphilus trispinosus and Ægeon fasciatus. I shall not do moro than describe the most characteristic features of the larva, as I hope soon to publish a more complete account of the development, with illustrations.

In the following pages I have attempted, at Mr. Garstang's suggestion, to record the results of the examination of tow-net stages of Teleostean fishes, as it seemed important to determine to what extent the record for 1897, published by Holt and Scott (Journal M.B.A., v., N.S., p. 156), was representative of the conditions usually prevailing in the Plymouth district.

During the past year (1902) several cases of peculiarly shaped gurnards were reported from Brixham and Plymouth, and three specimens eventually fell into my hands. They are hunchbacked in form, and are so distinct from the common type that in the days of Couch and Parnell they would have been raised to the dignity of a separate species. No records of such malformations in the gurnards—though common enough in fresh-water forms, as perch and trout—have ever been made so far as my knowledge goes, so that a brief description seems advisable.

Motella fusca. A new British Record. On April 9th Mr. Lowe, Curator of the Municipal Museum, found on the shore under a stone a ripe female Motella, which he brought up to the Laboratory. The fish measured 19 cms. It had three barbels, and on investigation failed to agree with the descriptions of any of the five recognised British species: M. mustela, tricirrata, macrophthalma, maculata, or cimbria.

The Council and Officers.

The four ordinary quarterly meetings of the Council have been held, at which the average attendance has been eight. On each occasion the meeting has taken place at the rooms of the Royal Society, and the Council desires to thank the Royal Society for the accommodation given.

The Council and Officers.

The work of the Council has this year been considerably augmented in consequence of the fact that a commission has been accepted from H.M. Government to carry out in the southern British area the programme of scientific fishery investigations adopted by the International Conference, which met at Christiania in 1901. In addition to the four ordinary meetings of the Council, three special meetings have been held, these being entirely devoted to the organisation of the international work. The average attendance at the meetings has been nine. The Council have again to thank the Royal Society for allowing all the meetings to bo held in their rooms at Burlington House.

The Report of the Council, which has already been in the hands of the members of the Association for some months, and is reprinted in the present number of the Journal, gives a summary of the history of the Association and of the work which has been in progress Binco the issue of the last Journal.