DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY * 



Alfred G. INIayer, Director. 



During the year our whole scientific outlook has been broadened through 

 improvements in the equipment of the laboratory. Most important in this 

 respect has been the building of the new yacht Anton Dohrn, named in honor 

 of the memory of the founder and director of that greatest of all marine 

 laboratories, the Stazione Zoologica of Naples. Anton Dohrn's life was a 

 record of self-sacrificing devotion to altruistic ideals, which his high ability 

 as an executive enabled him to place in practice to the lasting benefit of 

 science. Yet, high as his purpose was and successful as his achievements 

 were, we of America whom he honored by his friendship esteem him even 

 more for the rare traits of character that distinguished his every thought 

 and act, for his was an all-embracing culture, and his love of art, poetry, 

 literature, and of the incomparable beauty of the Neapolitan region, rich in 

 its historic associations, served but as a setting for his keen, incisive interest 

 in biology. Above all, he was a German gentleman of the highest type — a 

 follower of truth wherever truth might lead him, he showed to all men, from 

 prince to peasant, equal consideration and sympathy. 



The Anton Dohrn was constructed by the Miami Yacht and Machine Com- 

 pany at a cost of $25,000, and is the largest yacht which has as yet been built 

 in southern Florida. Madeira, a hard, mahogany-like wood found upon the 

 Florida Keys, and the best yellow pine were used in the construction, it 

 having been found that these woods resist the attacks of dry-rot even when 

 subjected to the damp, hot climate of the tropics. To resist the electrolytic 

 action so powerful in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream region, all fasten- 

 ings beneath the water-line are of brass or tobin bronze. The yacht is 70 

 feet over all, 66 feet upon the water-line, with 16 feet beam, and a draft of 

 5 feet. There are two water-tight bulkheads, one forward and the other 

 abaft of the engine-room, which occupies the amidship section of the vessel. 

 The vessel has two bronze propellers and two Eddystone Globe engines of 

 50 horsepower each. The engines are wholly independent one of the other, 

 each having its own gasolene tanks, pumps, batteries, etc., so that an accident 

 affecting one can not impair the efficiency of the other. These engines and 

 all other machinery of the yacht were installed by our chief engineer, Mr, 

 John Mills, and it should be said to his credit that from the day of their trial 

 trip they have run without mishap and with constantly increasing efficiency. 

 Our own crew worked upon the construction of the Anton Dohrn, the sailing- 

 master. Captain Lundblom, being president of the Miami Yacht and Machine 



* Situated at Tortugas, Florida. Grant No. 679. $16,480 for investigations and 

 maintenance during 191 1. (For previous reports see Year Books Nos. 3-9.) 



