VI. THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT 



I. INTRODUCTION 



To THE TRUSTEES OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 



Gentlemen: I beg leave to submit herewith a report concerning 

 the work of the Marine Biological Laboratory for the years 1907- 

 1908, with an appendix containing a compilation of the publica- 

 tions which have been based, wholly or in part, on work done 

 at the Laboratory during the entire period of its existence. In 

 this introductory statement I shall comment briefly on the general 

 functions of the Laboratory and on each of the main divisions of 

 the report. Acknowledgments are due the treasurer and the 

 librarian for their contributions to the report. 



The year 1908 was marked by the resignation of Professor 

 Whitman who had served the laboratory as director from its 

 birth to its coming of age. It has rarely happened that the 

 spirit and ideals of an institution have approximated so closely 

 to the conceptions of its director. No greater tribute could be 

 paid to the wisdom and forethought of the ideals with which 

 Professor Whitman endowed the laboratory at its start than the 

 fact that they have proved the fertile germ of the ideals to 

 which, after twenty-one years of trial, we still remain loyal. 

 Through the organization of the Marine Biological Laboratory 

 Professor Whitman has impressed his high conceptions of scien- 

 tific investigation upon biology in America, and has thus con- 

 tributed more than any other single person to the present high 

 status of biological investigation in this country. 



The continuation of the work of the Laboratory so that it shall 

 maintain a high standing and continue as an effective factor in 

 the progress of biological investigation imposes no light re- 

 sponsibility upon the trustees and officers. Our purpose is 

 essentially ideal and its pursuit demands our best efforts and our 

 loyalty. I believe that we should continue to maintain the 



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