| Description | Present at the meeting: Sir David Prain in the chair; Professor V H Blackman; Dr H H Dale;
Matters discussed [transcript] ;
' The Committee took into consideration the following three points which had been referred to them by Council;
a. Whether the findings of the Committee should be communicated in any form to the promoters of the American scheme
b. As to what action should be taken on the whole matter.
c. What, if any, reply should be made to the letter of December 2, 1924 from the Zoological Record Association.
It wa agreed to recommend as follows;
a. That the report of the Committee, ending with the words "in the immediate future, Section 5, be sent to America, with a covering letter embodying the following additional clause;
"Many important branches of Biology, and more especially of Zoology, have never had the advantage of any system of abstracts in English. The absence of such abstracts has, we believe, seriously impeded the progress of these sciences, more especially of late years, since the cessation of some German publications. Should our American colleagues succeed in establishing and financing a comprehensive system of abstracts they will confer a great benefit on biological science, for which all English-speaking biologists will be forever grateful. But in view of the evidence put before us, we feel bound to express the hope that the promoters of the scheme may still be able to consider such modifications that the scheme, while filling existing gaps, may avoid the risk of competition with certain established and successful British enterprises."
and stating that if a request for cooperation is received Council will remit such request to the appropriate Sectional Committees.
b. That if a request for cooperation is received, it be remitted to the Sectional Committees on the Biological side, meeting jointly, to consider ways and means.
c. That a Copy of the Report be sent to the Zoological Record Associatin and that they be informed that the Report is also being sent to America. ' |