1 68 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 



VI. Special. Grants. 



With certain exceptions, it is desirable, instead of permanently- 

 detailing the investigators of the country to certain subjects, possibly 

 to the detriment of the institutions with which they are connected, 

 to establish quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly grants. These grants 

 should be apportioned according to the importance of the subject or 

 ability of the investigator, and should be at least equivalent to the 

 salaries for the same period received by the investigators from the 

 institutions with which they are connected. In this manner teachers, 

 curators, state and government scientists would be entirelj^ relieved 

 of routine work for certain periods, and would be enabled to devote 

 their time exclusively to certain investigations. At the same time 

 these institutions would be able to provide substitutes. The work 

 in the various laboratories would not be interrupted, therefore, but 

 materially benefited and enriched. The committee feel verj^ strongly 

 at the present time that the chief drawback to progress in zoology is 

 that the majority of the ablest men are so heavily burdened with 

 administrative work that they have no opportunity for continuous 

 research ; nor are they able to command the means for carrying on 

 zoological researches at remote points. At the same time the stu- 

 dents and younger generation of the country would suffer if the 

 ablest men were permanently withdrawn from instruction by the 

 Institution. 



Exceptions will naturally arise in case of unattached investigators 

 or of those detailed by the Institution for prolonged expeditions or 

 researches. 



As regards grants or subsidies for research, provision should natu- 

 rally be made for visiting museums both at home and abroad, for the 

 examination of collections, for supplying investigators with necessary 

 books and apparatus from a central bureau, and with the means for 

 carrying on special researches in the localities where the opportuni- 

 ties are to be found. 



Investigators should enjoy considerable freedom of action. It fre- 

 quently happens that while in the field unforeseen opportunities arise 

 for new lines of work, and the most effective investigator is the one 

 who knows how to seize such opportunities and make the most of 

 them. 



