SECRETARY'S REPORT 



131 



Jnve$tigator 

 Schubert, Dr. Bernice, 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



Soper, Dr. Cleveland C, 



Eastman Kodak Tropical Research 



Laboratory, Panama City. 

 Swift, Paul, 



Eastman Kodak Tropical Research 



Laboratory, Panama City. 

 Weber, Neal A., 



Swarthmore College. 

 Wetmore, Dr. and Mrs. Alexander, 



Smithsonian Institution. 

 Wislocki, Louis, 



Swarthmore College. 



Principal intereat or tpeolal atudv 



Survey of plants of pharmaceutical im- 

 portance for more intensive future 

 studies. 



Direction of deterioration and corrosion 

 studies with particular emphasis on 

 photographic equipment. 



Physical and chemical studies related 

 to corrosion and deterioration. 



Cultivation of the fungi cultivated by 

 fungus-growing ants. 



Inspection of the physical plant and 

 continuation of his bird studies. 



Survey of mammal fauna and collec- 

 tion of tissues for histological and 

 embryological studies. 



VISITORS 



In all, 636 local visitors spent at least a day on the island, and some 

 stayed several days. All were most enthusiastic. Visitors and scien- 

 tists alike were most interested in taking pictures, especially in color. 

 Scientists are finding photographs increasingly valuable aids in their 

 research and teaching. It is unfortunate that the high cost of trans- 

 portation still keeps many away or considerably curtails their stay. 

 It is hoped that means can be found to hold seminars of 20 or so mider- 

 graduate students for about 3 months each year. Such a program has 

 tremendous possibilities and is receiving careful consideration. 



Anyone contemplating a visit to this unique spot in the American 

 Tropics should communicate with the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, Washington 25, D. C, or with the Resident Manager of 

 the Canal Zone Biological Aj-ea, Drawer C, Balboa, Canal Zone. 



RAINFALL 



In 1954, during the dry season (January through April) rains of 

 0.01 inch or more fell on 40 of the 120 days (94 hours), and amounted 

 to only 5.84 inches, as compared to 12.83 inches during 1953. 



During the wet season of 1954 (May through December) rains of 

 0.01 inch or more fell on 191 of the 245 days (724 hours) and amounted 

 to 99.84 inches, as compared to 92.14 inches during 1953. 



During 1954 rain fell on 21 days (818 hours), and averaged only 

 0.45 inch per day, almost 0.13 inch per hour. 



March was the driest month (0.21 inch) and November the wettest 

 (17.14 inches.) The wettest year of record (30 years) was 1935 with 

 143.42 inches, and the driest year of record was 1930 with only 76.57 

 inches. 



