DIRECTOR S REPORT. 9 



wooden buildings, to which the great majority of the investigators 

 must be assigned, are increasingly ill-adapted to the changing 

 requirements of biological research. Another large, firmly con- 

 structed, fireproof building has become a necessity. 



At the time of the organization of the Division of Biology and 

 Agriculture of the National Research Council, the needs of the 

 Marine Biological Laboratory for additional support were pre- 

 sented by the Director, and a committee of the Division was 

 appointed which investigated the situation and recommended 

 that the National Research Council lend its aid in securing 

 funds for the erection of a new building and for extension of the 

 library. The report was considered by the Executive Committee 

 of the Division and passed on with its approval and endorsement 

 to the Executive board of the Council which functions for the 

 whole organization. The report \vas then thoroughly considered 

 and heartily approved by the Executive Board. 



The support of the National Research Council is thus definitely 

 pledged to our projects for a new building and extension of the 

 library, but this does not relieve us of the necessity of using 

 our own efforts for the attainment of these immediate objects. 

 The National Research Council does not possess funds of its own 

 for such projects, but uses its great influence to reinforce the 

 best projects of scientific research. With such endorsement our 

 efforts should be rewarded more rapidly than we could otherwise 

 expect. 



The tabular view of attendance (p. 20) shows a total attend- 

 ance of 262 (students 128, and investigators 134) which is 

 twenty greater than the previous largest year (1915). This 

 number cannot be exceeded until another laboratory is built. 

 The receipts from students and investigators were $10,545 m 

 1919 as compared with $8,725 in 1916, $7,850 in 1917, and 

 $6,530 in 1918. The number of subscribing institutions was 47 

 in 1919; the largest previous number was 40 in 1916; in 1918 

 the number was 33. 



During the year the business of the Supply Department was 

 reorganized in such a way as to charge to it all items, hitherto 

 carried on the books as general expense items, with which it was 

 properly accountable; and as an offset it was credited with 



