374 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



collaborating with the writer in diatom studies. The conclusion 

 arrived at by this conference was that the time and expense involved 

 in such a trip would be well invested. Accordingly plans were made 

 and the trip was begun on June 1, 1921. 



As a report of the results secured will be made after the completion 

 of the trip, it is now necessary to merely outline the general purposes 

 in view. It was thought best to have the trip include the entire coast- 

 line, from San Diego, California, to Vancouver, British Columbia. 

 The places of special importance were felt to be the biological stations 

 along the coast, where as much diatom work as possible should be done 

 and, when practicable, assistance in collecting and research work 

 would be offered. A study of each of the diatom beds of this area 

 was included. Although the securing of material for the Washington 

 office was expected, the more important object was felt to be an awaken- 

 ing of interest in diatom study, both on the part of those now engaged 

 in that work and on the part of students at the various summer schools, 

 to whom a better understanding of the large role the diatoms play in 

 the economy of Nature might serve as an incentive to seriously under- 

 take their study. In this way a more active interest in diatom research 

 would be secured and arrangements for cooperation with this office 

 in Washington could be made. The plan is expected to require some- 

 thing over three months' time. This report is written at the Scripps 

 Biological Institute, La Jolla, California, the initial and most southern 

 stopping-place of the journey. A little over three weeks will be spent 

 at this point, where gratifying results are being obtained. 



Two opportunities for participating in scientific research in connec- 

 tion with important exploring expeditions have been offered to this 

 office and have been conditionally accepted. The first is the study of 

 the diatoms in such material as may be secured during the projected 

 Arctic explorations of Dr. V. Stefansson. The second is diatom study 

 of the material obtained by the recent Australasian Antarctic Expedi- 

 tion. It is evident that pioneer investigations of material brought 

 back from these remote and unknown parts of the world will be of 

 unusual scientific importance. The samples collected by the Ant- 

 arctic Expedition have been shipped from the University of London. 



