BIOLOGY. 373 



contribution to the extensive studies of Dr. David Starr Jordan, of 

 Leland Stanford Junior University. This bed, one of the largest in 

 the world, is affording material for discoveries of much scientific value. 



A small but complete report has been made to the Canadian Govern- 

 ment on the diatoms found in material collected by the Canadian 

 Arctic Expedition. The material was submitted to this office last 

 year, but only a cursory report was prepared. The results are to be 

 published in the regular series of scientific monographs covering the 

 work of that expedition. 



As was the case last year, a large number of studies has been made 

 for outside parties requesting information on subjects connected with 

 the diatoms. The majority of these has to do with fossil diatom 

 deposits, which are being more and more extensively utilized for various 

 practical purposes. The number of these requests grows and will 

 continue to grow ; so that it is becoming a question as to how far this 

 office will be justified in meeting this phase of service. Up to the pres- 

 ent time no request of this kind has been refused. The work involved 

 is generally small, only a few hours, rarely more than two or three days, 

 and the service rendered is generally gratify ingly large in proportion 

 to the labor. The fact that the information sought is so nearly unob- 

 tainable outside of this office ought also to make a willingness to accede 

 to such requests more obligatory, and, it should be added, considerable 

 valuable diatom material as well as some facts of scientific importance 

 are incidentally secured in this way. 



The Pacific Coast represents a territory of unusual attractiveness 

 to diatomists because the marine flora of its extensive seaboard has 

 been as yet very little studied, while the enormous deposits of fossil 

 diatoms, beginning south of Los Angeles and outcropping at many 

 places northward, are known to be unusual in the diversity of the genera 

 and species that they contain. As above stated, some study has been 

 given to the diatoms of the Lompoc (California) bed, but most of the 

 Pacific deposits, while having had careful attention from geologists, 

 have received little or no study from diatomists. Taken together, 

 these beds represent the largest and commercially the most important 

 diatom area known. Several invitations having come to this office 

 to visit this territory, the suggestion has made a strong appeal. On 

 the advice of Dr. Merriam an informal meeting of scientists whose work 

 is more or less identified with diatom research, was held in Washington 

 in March. The purpose of the meeting was to consider whether or 

 not such a Pacific Coast trip would be justified; and, if so, what its 

 scope and objectives should be. The meeting was attended by Dr. 

 Merriam; Dr. David White of the Geological Survey; Dr. T. Wayland 

 Vaughan, engaged in coastal biological and geological investigation; 

 Dr. F. V. Coville, botanist of the U. S. Department of Agriculture; 

 Dr. H. F. Moore, of the Bureau of Fisheries; and Mr. H. W. Henshaw, 



