June, 1904.] Opeiiirig of the Lake Laboratory Building. 179 



Address of Capt. Alexis Cope, Secretary Board of Trustees, Ohio State 



University. 



The movement toward the establishment of a lake laborator}- 

 for the Ohio State University at Sandusky began in the fall of 

 1S94. The late lamented Dr. D. S. Kellicott, then Professor of 

 Zoology and Entomology, in an interview with the secretarj- 

 expressed some discouragement over the prospects of the scientific 

 departments of the university. It was just after registration daj^ 

 and a number of students in the scientific courses who came later 

 had not 3'et returned. The secretary suggested some special 

 advertising of the science courses. In this conversation Professor 

 Kellicott mentioned the fact that the University of Michigan had 

 a lake laboratory somewhere on the lakes, I think at Charlevoix, 

 supported by the Fish Commission. The secretar}- at once said, 

 wh}' not have such a laboratory for the State University at San- 

 dusk}", in co-operation with our own State Fish Commission? 

 The}- have a building there and, for the present at least, might 

 allow us to use a portion of it for a laboratory. He at once 

 responded eagerl}- to the suggestion, and said Sandusky was the 

 best point on the lakes for a station. We at once opened the 

 matter with Hon. H. B. Vincent, then president of the Board of 

 Commissioners of Fish and Game, who took the matter up and 

 considered it favorably, and as a result of such conferences, Dr. 

 Kellicott drew up the following communication to the Board of 

 Trustees, which was presented to them at a meeting held Januar}- 

 15, 1S95. It is given in full because it has never been printed, 

 and because it states so fully the objects and purposes of the 

 laborator}" as conceived Iw Dr. Kellicott, who may well be called 

 its founder. It is as follows : 



To the Picsident and Ti iisiccs 0/ the Ohio State University : 



Sirs — At different times I have had conversation with President Scott, 

 Secretary Cope and others concerning a lake laboratory under the patronage 

 of the university. I now ask the privilege of stating to yoii in writing my 

 views of this matter, and, in this connection, of another closeh' connected 

 with the former, and ask you to consider both propositions. 



The questions are: i, The establishment in the near future of a lake 

 laboratory at or near Sandusky ; and 2, the creation of a State collection of 

 the fishes of Ohio. 



THE LABORATORY. 



The purpose of the plant that I would advocate is to afford an opportunity 

 and a stimulus to instructors and students of biolog}- in the university to 

 spend their vacations investigating living problems in biolog}-, especially 

 such as are connected with important industries like the fisheries. 



The obvious advantages to the university are: i. Prestige. 2, Practical 

 training of our students. 3, The sure increase of our collections ; and 4, it 

 should extend the usefulness and influence of the university. 



THE LOCATION. 

 I think it would be difiicult, if not impossible to find, anywhere about the 

 Great Lakes, a more suitable place for such a station than at some point near 

 Sandusky. 



