122 REPORTS OX IXVKSTIGATIOXS AXD PROJECTS. 



was destroyed has been replaced by one 87^ feet long and 34 feet wide, 

 surrounded on the south, east, and west by a veranda 14 feet in width. It 

 will be used as a laboratory building, especially for researches in physiology, 

 while our engineers and sailors will be comfortably housed in a newly con- 

 structed wing designed to strengthen and enlarge the machine-shop. 



These improvements enable us to accommodate 14 investigators at one and 

 the same time instead of 8, as formerly. In fact, the acquisition of so excel- 

 lent a sea-going vessel as the Anton Dohrn made it imperative that the 

 laboratory itself should be improved to meet the requirements of this new 

 era of enhanced efficiency and broader possibilities in oceanographic and 

 other work initiated by the possession of our new vessel. We now purpose 

 to conduct studies of the ocean currents of the region and to make voyages 

 of biological purport to the rich coral reefs of the Bahamas, as well as to 

 study the geology and zoology of Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica, and from among 

 the able young investigators of America and Europe we have already selected 

 certain of those who hope to conduct researches upon these voyages. No 

 geographical limits can be set upon research, and an expedition to the Great 

 Barrier Reef region of Australia has become necessary in order to extend 

 and render altogether conclusive the researches of Vaughan, Harvey, Gary, 

 Drew, and Tennent which have been commenced at Tortugas. In fact, the 

 study of the whole ocean and its life falls within the scope of the Department 

 of Marine Biology, not merely the bird's-eye view of nature afforded by any 

 single region. Especially is this true to-day, when biology has become closely 

 allied to chemistry, medicine, and physics, and the necessity for seeking out 

 certain few specific forms for experimental study has supplanted the general 

 collecting and descriptive work of a past generation. 



During the past year our sailors have been busily engaged in constructing 

 the Anton Dohrn and in erecting the new buildings at Tortugas to replace 

 the old ones destroyed or damaged by the hurricane of 19 10. We have 

 among our men some of the most highly skilled mechanics in southern Flor- 

 ida, and the necessity for granting them sufficient time in which to accom- 

 plish the important work of placing the laboratory upon a new footing has 

 prevented our extending facilities for research to more than eight investiga- 

 tions during the year. 



Mr. Mills and the sailors remained at Tortugas until October i, engaged 

 in the reconstruction of the buildings. 



In September 1910 the Director went to Torbay, Newfoundland, and to 

 Halifax, Nova Scotia, to study the Ctenophorae of the northern waters. On 

 behalf of the Department of Marine Biology he has pleasure in expressing 

 his sense of gratitude to the Honorable Mr. A. W. Piccott, Minister of 

 Marine and Fisheries of Newfoundland, for many courtesies and for sub- 

 stantial aid in providing a boat for these studies. 



In February 191 1 Prof. Ulric Dahlgren, of Princeton University, was sent 

 to Hampton Roads, Virginia, to enable him to collect young stages of Astero- 



