174 



It is by far the most important in its scope, aims, methods and future 

 prospects. It is chiefly supported by the munificence of Boston people. 

 The buildings consist at present of the laboratory and the newly acquired 

 dwelling house. The north side of the upper floors is divided into small 

 rooms 7x10 feet. Each of these is supplied with a table, an aquarium, 

 sink, shelves and a full set of reagents and glassware. These rooms are oc- 

 cupied by investigators doing independent work and are offered free. The 

 remaining portion of the second floor is occupied by the library, the 

 director's rooms, reagent room and the laboratory of the advanced stu- 

 dents. The lower floor by the lecture room and laboratory for students 

 most of whom are teachers at one place or another. 



This is the Mecca of the modern school of naturalists, and there are 

 collected, at this place, teachers and students from all the leading institu- 

 tions. 



The laboratories for students are open during July and August. Investi- 

 gators come earlier and stay later. 



In enumerating what has been done on the east coast it is perhaps well 

 to state what may be done on our west coast. Our eastern laboratories 

 necessarily close during winter. On the Southern California coast where 

 the thermometer never records the freezing point ice does not drive the 

 investigator away in winter. The boundless wealth of the fauna and flora 

 together with the favorable climate will doubtless sometime attract to this 

 region a number at least the equal of that now collected at Woods Hull or 

 Naples. At present the sole marine station on the whole coast is my little 

 laboratory at San Diego which is a mile from the shore and the windows of 

 which are now nailed up. 



I have before [San Francisco Chronicle, November 30, 1890.] urged the 

 establishment of marine laboratories on the west coast where they can equal 

 the Naples station and it is to be hoped that one may soon be endowed not 

 only for elementary work but for original research with a permanent corps 

 of investigators. 



P. S.— Since this was written Timothy Hopkins has endowed a marine lab- 

 oratory to be established at Monterey, and Adolph Sutro will maintain 

 another at the entrance of San Francisco Bay. "Who will utilize the best 

 locality— San Diego ? 



