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4 FISH AND GAME.

The Chinese, who use them for soup-making, discriminate
sharply between the different kinds. Some fetch up to
£200 a ton dried, while others are not worth £40. Most of
the supply is derived from Australasian waters, where
“lollyfish” and “‘titfish” constitute important exports to
China, the last-named variety being the especial privilege
of the Mandarin class.
The export from Ceylon of all descriptions of béche-demer
 amounted in value to the sum of Rs. 30,921 in 1902, a
trade comparatively small but capable of considerable extension.
 The “fish” are collected by means of native divers
and by spearing; the curing is aecording to approved
Chinese methods.

Sponges.—The true bath sponge (Buspongia officinalis)
occurs abundantly in certain localities around Jaffna and in
Trincomalee harbour. A few men at the latter place oceasionally
 fish small quantities and add a few rupees to their
incomes by sale to the troops in garrison and to visitors, but
nothing worthy of the name of an industry exists at present.
At Trincomalee the sponges are found growing profusely
upon stones in shallow water in certain sheltered inlets.
At low tide it is possible to wade out among them, and the
writer has filled a basket with a couple of dozen nice
specimens within the space of five minutes. Such alocality
appears ideal ground for sponge culture, and there are many
similar along the north coast.
Professor Dendy, the leading authority upon sponges, has.
reported favourably upon samples submitted to him, describing
 them as “fairly good, compact, resilient bath sponges.”
The establishment of a remunerative sponge fishery appears
feasible, and is another of the many economic marine
possibilities awaiting investigation.

Galle Marine Biological Station.—The Marine Biotogieal
 Laboratory temporarily fitted up at Point-de-Galle
in connection with the pearl fishing investigation is now
being placed upon a permanent footing. The accommodation
has been increased largely and is sufficient for the requirements
 of several workers.
No better site for such an institution could well be chogen
within the tropics, the vicinity being rich in all that is of
interest to a zoologist engaged in the study of marine fauna.
In thelagoon of the fringing coral reef around the fort, corals
and aleyonarians abound in myriad variety ; sea urchinsand
star fishes of tropical types are plentiful ; sluggish holothurians
are everywhere, and include the giant Synapia beselii, which