THE ZOOLOGICAL STATION AT NAPLES 211 



whenever a fisherman finds a strange or curious creature he carefully 

 brings it to the zoological station, sure of ready purchase in an institu- 

 tion that uses every agency for the advancement of the knowledge of 

 the life of the sea. 



The opening of the zoological station in 1874, realized the dream of 

 Anton Dohrn of a laboratory for marine biological investigation, and 

 now, in the high development of this institution, we mourn the death 

 of its creator, which occurred on the twenty-sixth of September, 1909. 

 Dohrn himself tells in an article in the Preuszisclie Jahrbilcher for 

 1872, how, during his travels to various European coasts, the necessity 

 was impressed upon him for the erection of marine laboratories suitably 

 equipped for research. In October, 1868, after a journey to Scotland 

 rendered disappointing by bad weather, Dohrn sought the rich faunal 

 region of lower Italy and Sicily where Johannes Miiller and his stu- 

 dents had been pioneers in marine zoology. Fully realizing that such 

 an institution as he planned does not spring into being completely 

 formed by generatio cequivoca, but rather develops like an organism, 

 Dohrn began to collect money for the erection in Messina of a building 

 which should contain rooms for investigation and also an aquarium for 

 the entertainment of the public. The next step, in January, 1870, was 

 to change the plan so as to locate in Naples where the larger numbers of 

 tourists and citizens would justify a great aquarium, not only for 

 popular education but as a substantial aid in support of the scientific 

 work of the institution. In the Deutsche Rundschau for 1892, Dohrn 

 tells the story of the preliminary work necessary to enlist the interest 

 and support of the Prussian ministry and the government of Naples. 

 Overcoming difficulties and interferences that would have utterly dis- 

 couraged a less enthusiastic and steadfast nature and valiantly taking 

 his patriotic part in the Franco-Prussian war, it was not until June, 

 1872, that a contract with the city authorities was executed for the 

 erection by Dr. Dohrn of a building for the zoological station. The 

 original contract has since been modified, so that now the station occu- 

 pies 4,000 square meters of ground in the Villa Nazionale and is to 

 remain in the possession of the Dohrn family for ninety years, then 

 reverting to the city of Naples, unless otherwise provided for. 



While devoting his own life and his estate to the building up of a 

 great central station for marine biology in Naples, Dohrn urged the 

 necessity for similar stations in all lands, to release investigators from 

 the troubles and expenses otherwise involved. These advantages he 

 especially desired for the young men fresh from the university, who 

 might thus increase their powers, widen their knowledge and enlarge 

 their general point of view. If it be possible to remain free from the 

 pressing necessities of life for four or five years, such a young man 

 could demonstrate whether he really had the call to be an investigator. 

 The work would necessitate the wearisome uncovering: of the smallest 



