APPENDIX 10 



REPORT ON THE CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA^ 



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

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

 1947. As in past reports, there are included data regarding rainfall, 

 temperatures, relative humidity, and other data which are invaluable 

 to those coming to the island for study. 



REGARDING THE ISLAND 



As this is the first report published in several years, it is desirable to 

 include here some of the data that appeared in the earlier Barro 

 Colorado Island Biological Laboratory Reports — particularly so, be- 

 cause so many new readers will want this information. 



The island was reserved for scientific purposes by Governor J. J. 

 Morrow on April 17, 1923 ; hence in 1948 the island and its unique labo- 

 ratory will celebrate its twenty-fifth amiiversary. It is located in 

 Gatun Lake, about halfway between Gamboa and Gatun. Its width is 

 3.1 miles, its length 3.4 miles, and its area 3,609.6 acres, or 5.64 square 

 miles. Its coast line exceeds 25 miles. It is larger than the combined 

 areas of the familiar islands of Taboga, Taboguilla, Urava, Otoque, 

 Bona, Morro, Chame, Estiva, Melones, Venado, Mandinga, Tabor, En- 

 sena, Patterson, Tortola, Naos, Culebra, Perico, and Flamenco. 



The shore line of Gatun Lake is on the average 85 feet above sea 

 level, and the highest point on the island, 637 feet. There are 24 

 trails, marked off into 100-meter sections, so that not only are all parts 

 of the island available with ease, but the 100-meter designations give 

 it a sort of cross index ; thus, for example, Wheeler-6 has a very definite 

 location. And since all trails eventually lead to the main laboratory, 

 no one has ever been known to be lost on the island. 



As to buildings, there is a two-story main building 32 by 55 feet, 

 the lower floor including a dining room, and the upper floor lodging 

 rooms. There are two buildings 12 by 24 feet with two rooms each, 

 the ZMA and Barbour Houses, the latter with a large porch for labora- 



^ This is the first report to be published since the Canal Zone Biological Area was placed 

 under the administration of the Smithsonian Institution. The first to the sixteenth reports, 

 for the years when the organization was known as the Barro Colorado Island Biological 

 Laboratory, were issued In mimeograph form, the last In 1940. During the war, owing to 

 military restrictions and other considerations, no reports were issued. 



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