APPENDIX 10 



REPORT ON THE CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA 



Sir: It gives me pleasure to present herewith the annual report of 

 the Canal Zone Biological Area for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1950. 



IMPROVEMENTS MADE 



A reinforced-concrete 11,720-gallon water tanlc, for ordinary uses 

 as well as for fire protection, was built about 400 feet from the start 

 of the Snyder-Molino Trail. The elevation of the tank above the 

 laboratory level is such as to furnish enough pressure to bring the 

 water over the roof of the large main building. The 4,000-gallon 

 concrete water tank built in 1948 is now being used only for rain water 

 for drinking and laboratory needs. 



The land south of the Chapman house was leveled in preparation 

 for the reconstruction of the building used for corrosion and deteriora- 

 tion tests; and the material necessary for a 12-foot extension to this 

 building was purchased. The present house, originally built in 1926, 

 is infested with termites. Considerable progress was made in clearing 

 the land back of the present laborator^^ group to allow space for more 

 effective separation of our buildings to eliminate fire hazard. 



The floating equipment is in good shape. A reduction gear was 

 added to the launch Luna. The narrow-gage rail line from the Frijoles 

 dock to the railroad station was relocated and improved. 



SCIENTISTS AND THEIR STUDIES 



During the year, 21 scientists made use of the island's facilities. 

 Present costs of transportation are keeping many from coming, and 

 for the same reason a number of those who come do not stay as 

 long as they would like to. Since the laboratory was started in 1923, 

 about 660 separate papers relating to work done at Barro Colorado 

 Island have appeared in print, not including the many reports made 

 by representatives of Government agencies. 



Dr. Alfred O. Gross, professor of biology, Bowdoin College, accom- 

 panied by Mrs. Gross, returned to the island after an absence of 25 

 years, to continue his studies of birds. He spent about 6 weeks study- 

 ing in great detail and photographing the Hicks's seedeater and the 

 little flycatcher, Myiohms barbatus, and made valuable observations 

 of many other species. The island is exceptionally well suited for 

 the investigation of the birds of the lower tropical forest. 



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