THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS. l"J 



which led to rather severe competition for admission. A conse- 

 quence of this was a very high percentage of graduate students in 

 the classes including some who already had the Ph.D. degree. 

 However, as a definite matter of policy, a certain number of places 

 were held open for undergraduate students in order to encourage 

 those of high attainments with definite professional interests. The 

 number of investigators, including research assistants, was 250. 

 The highest previous attendance was 207 in 1925. At the height 

 of the season every working place both in the old and the new 

 buildings was occupied. That this should happen in the second 

 year of use of the new laboratory gives pause for thought. There 

 has been no artificial stimulation of attendance. The demand for 

 places as a result of better equipment and better library will soon 

 be greater than the supply. Under these conditions it is hoped 

 that the new housing conditions referred to below may serve to 

 distribute the attendance over a longer season and so relieve the 

 pressure somewhat during July and the first half of August. A 

 considerable number of investigators work only during a six 

 weeks' period. If these could be distributed so that some could 

 succeed others in the same working places the accommodations of 

 the Laboratory could be made to serve a larger number of persons. 



There was a very gratifying increase in attendance of foreign 

 investigators, who came from England (4), Germany (5), Swit- 

 zerland (2), Brazil (i), India (i), Rumania (i), Italy (i), Rus- 

 sia (2), Japan (2), China (i), Philippines (i), Syria (i), repre- 

 senting as many separate universities or research institutions. 

 These investigators bring with them a genuine stimulating influ- 

 ence; and there results a better understanding of the scientific 

 work of the various countries. 



2. Housing Accommodations. In the report of the Director 

 for 1925 attention was called to the lack of adequate and suitable 

 housing accommodations under control of the Laboratory for in- 

 vestigators and students. This had become a condition seriously 

 threatening the growth and usefulness of the Laboratory. For 

 about two months in the height of the summer season there was 

 often not a single room available in the village. The uncertainty 

 of obtaining accommodations combined with the unsuitability or 

 high price of any remaining discouraged attendance. The fact 

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