flfllllliSiiiSim 



Figure 12. — Baird's residence at Woods Hole in the l880's before 

 the construction of government buildings. Formerly 

 Miss J. Fish's house facing Little Harbor, now 

 property of Paul J. Gulesian. Courtesy of Norman T. 

 Allen. 



The purpose of scientific investigations was little understood 

 by the public. Their questions about what the biologists were doing 

 in the laboratory were sometimes difficult to answer. Linton 

 reported that on one occasion A. E. Verrill, who was in charge of 

 the laboratory, found it impossible to enlighten his interlocutors. 

 He had an inspiration and told them that he was paid for his work. 

 This seemed to be accepted as quite a satisfactory explanation. Of 

 course there were many laymen of better education and higher intel- 

 ligence who were able to grasp the significance of research. Since 

 Baird's time to the present, the problem of visitors and how to 

 satisfy their natural curiosity and at the same time avoid interference 

 with scientific work has been of great concern to all in charge of 

 scientific institutions at Woods Hole. Baird encouraged the people 

 to visit his laboratory because he was convinced that in a democratic 

 society the people are entitled to know about the activities of the 

 institutions which are maintained by expenditures of public funds. 



23 



