REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 11 



present award is made to I'rof. fl. J. 'rhoiiison. of Trinity Collcoo, 

 Cambridg-e, England, and is, hi'oadly stated, for his investigations 

 on the conduetivity of gases, especially on the gases that coinposc 

 atmospheric air. 



NAPLES TABLE. 



The lease by the Institution, for a thii'd term of thice \'eai-s, of a 

 table in the Naples Zoological Station, which expii-ed on the oOth of 

 June, lt>02, has Ixhmi extended luitil the ;;lst of December of the same 

 >'ear. Following this action, numerous applications foi- the Smith- 

 sonian seat, whidi had necessarily been held pending, were taken up 

 for consideration. The ([uestion as to the renewal of the lease for 

 another term of years is now receiving careful consideration, and will 

 be decided l)efore th(» expiration of the present contract. 



The Secretary visited the Naples Station (hiring the sununej- and 

 was pleased with the investigations carried on there. The Smith- 

 sonian Institution, through its cooperation in this work, has been 

 brought in touch with many institutions of learning in the Ignited 

 States, but it is to be hoped that it may receive from sonu' extraneous 

 source the means of continuing this lease for the benefit of all Ameri- 

 can biologists, which if renewed nuist divert to this useful but extrane- 

 ous purpose funds needed for others. 



In November, 1901, Dr. C. W. Prentiss, to whom a travding Parker 

 Fellowship had l)een awarded l\y Harvard l^niversity, applied for and 

 received the appointment to the Smithsonian seat in the Naples vStation 

 for March, April, and May, 11)02. Being rea]i})ointed Parker Fellow 

 while in i-esidence at Naples, Dr. Prentiss asked for a i)rolongation of 

 his term through tho months of flune and July, llie unavoidable 

 delay in replying to this request, caused by tlu> uncertainty as to the 

 extension of the lease, was not allowed to work to tlie disadvantage of 

 the applicant by Dr. Dohrn, who kin.dly invited him to continue his 

 occupancy until a decision was reached l)y the Institution. 



Numerous other applicants were also, to my regret, kept in uncer- 

 tainty in regard to their appointments, but althougli this fact finally 

 ])rought three and even four Smithsonian appointees to Na})les at the 

 same time, and foi- an extended period, they were all courteously 

 arranged for by the obliging director of the station, 'llie details of 

 these appointments will receive mention in the report for the coming 

 year, to which tlu\y belong and are accredited. It ma}' l)e added that 

 muiierous applications, for periods beyond the jDresent extension of 

 the lease, are now held for action, awaiting a decision as to its renewal. 



The Secretary desires to express again his appreciatiori of the ready 

 and efficient aid rendered him year after year by the advisory Com- 

 mittee in the examination of credentials and in recommendations as to 

 appointments. 



