DIRECTOR S REPORT. 15 



During the summer farther study of the building plans and 

 of equipment was made and incorporated in working drawings 

 and specifications by the architects. Costs of building having 

 increased since the original estimates were prepared in March 

 1922, the necessity of some curtailment of building plans was 

 considered, and alternative schemes for constructing major 

 parts of the entire plan were also prepared by the architects. 

 The plans and specifications are ready for the builders as soon 

 as the balance of the sum needed to meet the conditions has been 

 provided. 



The Laboratory traces its origin directly back to the impetus 

 given the study of Marine Biology by the establishment of the 

 Anderson School of Natural History on Penikese Island near 

 Woods Hole in 1873 by Louis Agassiz. As the summer of 1923 

 will be the fiftieth anniversary of this epoch-making event in 

 the history of biology in America, it seemed to be an appropriate 

 time for the establishment of a memorial in memory of this 

 service of Agassiz. On recommendation of Dr. Clapp a com- 

 mittee was appointed by the Trustees to consider and recommend 

 plans for the establishment of an Agassiz Memorial. It is 

 hoped that this may take the form of a suitable monument on 

 the site of Agassiz 's laboratory. 



Towards the end of the year a most important addition to 

 the real estate holdings of the Laboratory was made by the 

 President of the Board, Mr. C. R. Crane, who presented to 

 the Laboratory the property known as the Kidder House at 

 the corner of East and Water Streets immediately adjoining 

 the old buildings of the Laboratory and forming part of the 

 block on which the first buildings of the Laboratory were erected. 

 We owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Kidder as well as to Mr. 

 Crane for the acquisition of this land, which she may be said 

 to have held for the Laboratory pending a favorable opportunity 

 for its acquisition. In the Resolution concerning the death of 

 Mr. Camillus G. Kidder, included in this report, reference is 

 made to the interest of the Kidder family in plans for biological 

 work at Woods Hole at a period even ante-dating the establish- 

 ment of the Marine Biological Laboratory. It is to that interest 



