1903 Report: Ceylon Pearl Oyster Fisheries - Copepoda - W.A. Herdman & I.C. Thompson

Item Description:

Offered is an original 1903 scientific publication titled "Report to the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar: Supplementary Report VII - On the Copepoda."

This rare volume was authored by Isaac C. Thompson and Andrew Scott, with contributions by the renowned marine zoologist Professor W.A. Herdman. The report details the extensive biological survey conducted in 1902 to investigate the pearl oyster industry in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). It includes a comprehensive study of copepods collected during the expedition, covering specimens found in tow-nets, dredging washings, and parasitic species attached to fish.

This document features 20 detailed plates of scientific illustrations documenting various copepod species, making it a valuable resource for historians of oceanography, marine biologists, and collectors of antiquarian scientific literature.

Maker/Author Biographies

Sir William Abbott Herdman (1858–1924): A prominent Scottish marine zoologist and oceanographer who held the Derby Chair of Natural History at the University of Liverpool. He was instrumental in the scientific study of the Irish Sea and was knighted in 1922 for his contributions to science. He served as president of the Linnean Society and the British Association. 

Isaac C. Thompson (d. 1903): A distinguished member of the Liverpool scientific community and a leading local authority on microscopy. A fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society and the Linnean Society, he became a specialist in copepods in his later years. 

Andrew Scott (A.L.S.): A colleague of Herdman and Thompson who worked extensively on the biological reports from the Ceylon expedition. 

Historical Information & Interesting Facts

The Expedition: In 1902, Professor W.A. Herdman led an expedition to Ceylon at the request of the government to study the pearl oyster fisheries. The goal was to provide a scientific basis for the management of the pearl beds, which were a lucrative but unpredictable colonial asset. 

A "Last" Work: The report contains a poignant note from Professor Herdman, mourning the sudden death of his friend and colleague, Isaac C. Thompson, which occurred just as this report was being printed. 

Methodology: The collection of these microscopic specimens was a feat of ingenuity for the time; the researchers rigged a tow-net to a bathroom tap on a fast-moving steamer, allowing for constant seawater sampling throughout the journey. 

Library Provenance: This specific copy bears a "Marine Biological Laboratory" withdrawal stamp dated June 9, 1948, indicating it was once part of a research institution’s collection.