OTAGO INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Issue 11266, 13 June 1900, Page 1

OTAGO INSTITUTE.

A meeting of the Ofcago Institute was held last evening at the Museum, Mr F. R. Chapman presiding. Messrs Logan, Woodhouse, Fek, and Lilly were Reeled new members.. • ■ .i •, '■

; Dr Hocken laid on the." table a monograph of the New Zealand.Heiiatkav written by Dr Berggren, of Lund University, and, gave a short account of Dr ; BerggreuV scientific research in New Zealand twentvfive years ago. * Dr Benham exhibited several specimens of cartilaginous fishes from the Museum, referring to the excellent method uf their* preparation in .glycerine, which had been, perfected by the late Dr Parker. He also gave an account of the curious mudfish (or* ceratodus) of North Queensland, which hail been presented by Mr Sargeant, a former I student of our Mining School. The jxjculiarity of the fish is that it breathes, partlTby means of a lung. Dr Benham also offered, a few observations on the natural history of the many lower forms of animal life in New Zealand, the result of observations made'during a recent holiday at "Moerakii and Warrington. ' ■. "' [ '~ . Mr G. M. Thomson then gave a-n account of the trawling operations recently umjertakeu by the Government to examine our shores for marketable fish. Dr Benham, Mr Hamilton (registrar of the University), and he accompanied 'the various expeditions of the small boat of 19 tone, as scientific supervisors. The coast of the fcjouth Island was examined from Golden Bay down'the East Coast as far south, as Stewart Island arid Tewaewae. Bay. The fish were.abundant up to about twenty-five fathoms, bub from thai; to fifty scarcely any, comparatively, were found: This might have oeeu due to seasonal causes, and was certainly, very different frorijjtrawling as «arnuU.nrt in other parts of the world.' The best results wtre perhaps obtained at Tt,«--aew*» "Bay, where in two hours forty-eight dozen of flat fish, brill, and other good fish wtre .trawled. In other parts kiiiKfish in abundance, red cod, soles, and flounders were found, and large numbers of elepliaut fish. gurnard, schnapper and. last of all, oysters were found in Golden B»y. The existence. of the latter was not previously knov.it to tbe Nelson folks. The hake tish was found, for the first time near Wangamii, and ;i very good market fish hitherto unknown .n New Zealand (the macrurus). Of cour.-'t. scientific matter was collected, which ivi!! form an additional report to that of the Government. The abundance and variety of food for fish was. something cuormm:?. Operations are to be resumed in January next on the West Coast of the North Island, aud it was urged that these .should always be accompanied by a scientific persou. Mr Thomson also gave an account of the negotiations which had been entered into with the Government regarding the proposed fish hatchery, which he hoped would be an accomplished fact by the end of this year.