20 Kansas Academy of Science. 



The president remarked that in putting up a building we 

 need scaffolding; so in plant growth the potash may perform 

 this office. 



The next paper read was No. 33, "Nutritive Factors in 

 Health and Disease," by C. F. Nelson. 



Professor Bailey inquired if the investigation carried on 

 would indicate that life would be sustained and the animal 

 grow through aminic acid. 



Professor Nelson replied that this had been done very con- 

 clusively in this case, and there are cases recorded where man 

 has been kept neither losing nor gaining in weight for about 

 a week. 



The next paper called for was No. 23, "The Migration of 

 the Spiny Lobster," by B. M. Allen. 



Mrs. Smyth asked if the migration is affected by the cur- 

 rent. 



Professor Allen said those that went farthest went with the 

 current, and in general along the shore the currents come 

 that way. The water was ten to twelve fathoms deep. They 

 travel almost wholly by walking. In one or two cases lobsters 

 scrambled along on the surface of the water by a quick mo- 

 tion of the tail. 



Professor Risser said there were some experiments carried 

 on at Woods Hole laboratory which showed that the migration 

 was in any direction, but the lobster is a rather contented 

 individual and does not carry about very much, and does not 

 care to worry himself, so to speak. The distance traveled as 

 indicated by Professor Allen's paper may be but a small part 

 of the distance the animal may have wandered back and 

 forth in all this time, and not at any time taken any consider- 

 able trip. He may travel a great many miles more than those 

 tags would indicate. With reference to their going into traps, 

 we know that the traps are baited with the food he likes best 

 and that his natural ability for getting food is small, for 

 scarcely would he come to your trap again if he could get food 

 elsewhere. I will say that the fishermen were very good, 

 indeed, and I doubt if the original fishermen would have done 

 more. 



Professor Allen remarked that the Japanese and other fish- 

 ermen were willing to furnish fine marketable lobsters which 

 would bring two or three dollars in the market, without any 



