Feb., 1906.] A State Natural History Survey. 47 ^ 



A STATE NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY. 



At the Cincinnati meeting of the State Academy of Science 

 the President in his annual address urged the effort to secure 

 state support for a natural history survey. The Academy 

 adopted a resolution endorsing the project and providing for a 

 committee of three, to consist of the retiring President, the 

 incoming President and the Secretary, to draft a bill and 

 endeavor to secure its passage during the coming session of the 

 General Assembly. 



As a result of the efforts of this Committee a bill has been 

 introduced by Hon. C. V. Trott of Mt. Vernon. This bill, after 

 providing in the first Section for the establishment of the Survey, 

 appointment of the Director by the Governor and authority to 

 appoint necessary specialists and assistants, states in Sections 2 

 to 4 the objects of the survey as follows : 



" Section 2. The Survey shall have for its objects: (1) An 

 examination of the animal and plant life of the state with special 

 reference to its distribution, abundance, increase or decrease^ 

 and facts of practical or scientific importance as a foundation for 

 accurate instruction in the schools of the state. In particular 

 shall facts relating to the organic purity of water supplies, the 

 food supply of fishes, the game birds and animals, and forms 

 affecting public health be considered. (2) The identification of 

 birds, fishes, and other animals or plants sent in for the purpose 

 by officers of the Fish and Game Commission, State Board of 

 Health, City Boards of Health, or other State, County or munic- 

 ipal bodies calling for such inforination, or by the general public 

 so far as they may be of public interest or value, and as the time 

 of the officers may permit. Such investigations as may be 

 especially desired by the State Board of Health in connection 

 with the water supplies or the disease-producing or transmitting^ 

 forms of life, or the Fish and Game Commission or other State 

 Bureaus for the purpose of their work shall be given preference 

 and pushed with all possible speed consistent with careful work.. 

 (3) The preparation of special reports with necessarv illustra- 

 tions and maps which shall embody both a general and a detailed 

 description of the work of the survey. 



Sec. .3. The collections made in pursuance of this act shall 

 be deposited at the Ohio State University and shall be available 

 for study by any person properly qualified, under such regu- 

 lations made by officers of the Survey, as may be necessary 

 for the permanent preservation and use of the collections. 



Sec. 4. The Survey may from any duplicate material in its 

 collections furnish sets to such colleges, museums, high schools, 

 or township schools of the state as may be willing to pay the cost 



