DIRECTOR'S REPORT. 



143 



been realized, though not to the extent that was anticipated. 

 The total attendance of investigators and students at the Labora- 

 tory since 1913 has been: 1913, 191; 1914, 218; 1915, 242; 

 1916,231; 1917,212. If 1916 is used for reference the reduction 

 in attendance was about 8 per cent., with reference to 1915 

 about 125-2 per cent.; only about 3 per cent, less than 1914, and 

 over 10 per cent, more than 1913. The decline since 1915 must 

 be attributed primarily to war conditions. It must be antici- 

 pated that the decline will continue for the duration of the war. 

 Analyzing the figures of attendance a little farther the attend- 

 ance of investigators was 129, the same as 1914 and 1916, but 8 

 less than 1915 ; the attendance of students was 83 or 19 less than 

 in 1916. Many of the young men, who registered earlier in the 

 year for courses, withdrew on account of military duties; the 

 decrease of attendance of men in courses was 17, of women 2. 



ATTENDANCE OF MEN AND WOMEN IN COURSES 



The number of subscribing institutions was 38 in 1917 as 

 against 40 in 1916. The receipts from such institutions were 

 $4,750 in 1917 as against $4,900 in 1916. The total receipts on 

 account of tuition and investigation were $7,850 in 1917, $8,625 

 in 1916. 



The charge for board at the mess was raised for the first time 

 in thirty years on account of the increased cost of supplies; 

 members of the Labbratory were charged $5.50 per week instead 

 of $5.00. The rate was raised for those not members of the 

 Laboratory to $8.00 per week. Contracts for all staple supplies 

 were made in the winter. The net results were entirely satis- 

 factory to the members and to the Laboratory and the season 

 closed with a net surplus of $1,441.21, as compared with a loss 

 of $101.52 last year. There will thus be a sufficient sum for 



