36 THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
have excited interest and attention to matters which are of the
highest importance as affecting our County Industries, and the more
people you can get to come and inquire and learn the more assist-
ance and the more plant you want, and it would be the very worst
policy to check this inquiring spirit. Then, as regards Fish Culture,
it was felt that, with nearly 100 miles of sea-board, to say
nothing of our rivers, this was an industry that should be looked
after and assisted, and so we some time ago directed our attention to
the establishment of a Marine Biological Station, and this is now an
accomplished fact, as we have at Brightlingsea a station, very modest
and unpretentious, but fitted up with a view of carrying out experi-
ments in Oyster Culture, and in the growth, development, and
diseases of other Fish. We are endeavouring, by forming a Museum,
giving lectures, carrying out experiments, and by other means to
interest the fishermen of the county, so that every fact in con-
nection with the successful growth of Fish may be brought under
their notice, with a view of preventing waste and improving the yield
of their industry.
I have gone into the above question somewhat in detail, because,
as the Essex Field Club were the pioneers in formulating a scheme
for Technical Education for the County, it is only right that the
result of their efforts should be duly chronicled. The County of
Essex owes a great debt of gratitude to Professor Meldola and the
other members selected by the Club, who are not connected with
Essex. Of course, as regards those members who are Essex men no
thanks are due to us, because it was our duty to obey the call made
to us ; but as to the other gentlemen to whom I have alluded, they had
no county ties, but were actuated by a desire to use their knowledge
and their influence in carrying out the works allotted to them to a
successful issue. Professor Meldola has devoted a great amount of
his valuable time to the matter, and has brought his technical know-
ledge to bear upon the discussions which have occurred at critical
periods.
Another change in the working of the Technical Instruction
Committee has just been made—the Scientific Sub-Committee has
been done away with, and therefore in the future all matters for con-
sideration will not have the advantage of being critically examined
before being brought before the General Committee. Whether this
new arrangement will be an improvement time will prove. I have
my doubts, as I believe the preliminary threshing out that everything