THE COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES 425 



of volunteer assistants was brought together. Professors 

 S. I. Smith and A. E. Verrill took charge of the inverte- 

 brates collected; Dr. W. G. Farlow of Harvard studied 

 algse; J. W. P. Jenks, Alpheus Hyatt, and several others, 

 came down for longer or shorter periods to assist in or 

 inspect the methods of work, or to avail themselves of the 

 opportunities for study. 



The seaside laboratory experiment of Agassiz at Peni- 

 kese Island is widely known as the first attempt in Amer- 

 ica at establishing a summer school of biology for teachers, 

 combined with opportunities for research for advanced 

 students. It did not succeed in forming a permanent 

 institution, chiefly on account of its almost inaccessible 

 position, and the early death of its founder. Alpheus 

 Hyatt, at Annisquam, Mass., for some years maintained, 

 against serious obstacles, a small but efficient laboratory, 

 which finally had to be closed for want of adequate support 

 by students. 



Baird's work at Wood's Hole had but begun when he 

 realized that quantities of material were daily brought in 

 and not utilized because not bearing directly on the work 

 in hand. He formed the plan of inviting students of zo- 

 ology to come to Wood's Hole during the season's Fish 

 Commission work; pointing out that material for study 

 was abundant, that opportunities for making personal 

 collections were good, and that the Commission would do 

 all in its power to facilitate their operations. He arranged 

 for cheap board. The rough and ready buildings used by 

 the Commission for its own purposes were so planned as to 

 accommodate working tables for a limited number of 

 students. 



That the Commission could not legally establish a 

 laboratory for other than Government work was evident; 



