12 MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 



VI. THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT. 



To THE TRUSTEES OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 



Gentlemen: I beg to submit herewith a report of the thirty- 

 fifth session of the Marine Biological Laboratory for the year 

 1922. 



The business of the Laboratory has become so complex, 

 especially in the summer, that the executive officers can no longer 

 assume the responsibility of administering it with reference 

 only of major problems to the Board of Trustees once or twice 

 during the year. The Executive Committee of the Board has 

 accordingly been reorganized during the last two years to con- 

 sist of the Director and Assistant Director ex officiis and three 

 members of the Board resident in Woods Hole during the sum- 

 mer, one member being elected each year for a three-year period. 

 The Committee meets weekly during the summer, and at other 

 times of the year when called, and reports its principal activities 

 at the annual meeting of the Board. In this way different 

 members of the Board are successively brought into close con- 

 tact with detailed problems of administration of the Laboratory. 

 It is felt that this practice is good for the morale of the entire 

 Institution; it is also a great relief to the administrative officers 

 to share their responsibilities at times when decisions have to 

 be made; naturally, also, it makes for greater steadiness and 

 consistency in the conduct of affairs, through the establishment 

 of precedents. 



The season of 1922 was very gratifying as to attendance and 

 all other evidences of active interest and wide cooperation in 

 the affairs of the Laboratory. 



Attendance. The attendance of students in courses was 126, 

 of investigators 182, making a total of 308 persons, who repre- 

 sented 104 institutions. These numbers are considerably in 

 excess of any previous attendance, except in the case of students 

 in courses whose numbers are limited by rule. Applications 

 for working places were very considerably greater than could 

 be granted; about 30 students had to be refused places on ac- 

 count of the rule limiting admission to courses, but it was pos- 



