io6 REPORTS OF inve;stigations and projects. 



DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY* 



Alfred G. Mayer, Director. 



The year 1906-07 has been the most successful in the history of the Tortu- 

 gas Laboratory, and has been productive of more varied and important 

 results in research than were either of the two previous years during which 

 the Laboratory has been open to investigators. 



The yacht Physalia was moored in the Miami River, Florida, when the 

 center of the great hurricane of the autumn of 1906 passed over her, but, 

 due to her strong havvsers and well-placed anchors, she was one of the few 

 vessels in the Miami that survived the storm uninjured- A second menace 

 to the prosperity of the Laboratory came through the fire on February 20, 

 1907, in the sail loft of the Miami boat-works, which destroyed the sails, 

 running rigging, and much of the equipment of the Physalia and the Sea 

 Horse. This loss was, however, covered by insurance and did not reduce 

 the efficiency of these vessels in their work during the active season. 



In order to render the Sea Horse more seaworthy and available for cruis- 

 ing in the Gulf Stream, she was extensively altered, the main object in these 

 changes being to determine whether it will not be possible to carry out the 

 scientific work of the Station with a smaller and less expensive vessel than 

 the Physalia. Accordingly, the Sea Horse was provided with a self-bailing 

 cockpit, a longer keel, and a mast ; and thus equipped she proved so successful 

 that it was found unnecessary to make use of the Physalia at Tortugas for 

 any part of the scientific work of the Laboratory. 



The Physalia was, however, placed in thorough repair and provided with 

 a more efficient propeller and a canvas-covered deck for her trunk cabin ; 

 and thus equipped she made a cruise of more than 900 nautical miles through 

 the Bahamas to Nassau and Cay Verde, leaving Miami on March 27 and 

 returning on April 29. 



The object of this cruise was to permit Mr. Frank M. Chapman, of the 

 Amicrican Museum of Natural History, and Hon. George Shiras 3d to carry 

 out studies upon the nesting habits of the frigate birds and gannets on Cay 

 Verde, Bahamas. We also established a temporary laboratory at Nassau, 

 leaving a launch, apparatus, and a sailor to serve Prof. Edwin G. Conklin, 

 of the University of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Carl Kellner, assistant to Prof. 

 William K. Brooks, of Johns Hopkins University. These gentlemen remained 

 for a month in Nassau, carrying on studies in embryology upon certain of the 

 pelagic animals living in the deep water of the Tongue of the Ocean, beyond 

 the mouth of Nassau Harbor. 



In the meantime the yacht proceeded to Cay Verde, making frequent 

 pelagic hauls en route. 



* Situated at Tortugas, Florida. Grant No. 398. $15,000 for investisations and 

 maintenance. (For previous reports see Year Book No. 3, pp. 50-54; Year Book No. 4, 

 pp. 108-124; and Year Book No. 5, pp. 106-118.) 



