112 INTEKNAllONAL CONFEKENGE, 



APPENDIX II. 



In connection with the central bureau there should be a central 

 laboratory, where, amongst other things, the following work might be 

 carried out : — 



1. The various methods for determining salinity, temperature, gases, 

 plankton, etc., of the sea should be carefully tested, in order that 

 standard methods may be fixed. 



2. The various apparatus and instruments now used for hydro- 

 graphical and biological research should be examined in order to settle 

 which are the most trustworthy. Experiments may also be made to 

 improve the apparatus and instruments, or to construct new and better 

 ones. 



3. Instruments and apparatus used in the investigations should be 

 approved and tested at certain intervals at the central laboratory. 



4. The water -samples sent by the workers of the participating 

 states should be analysed and examined at the central laboratory, 

 from which also samples of standard water should be provided. (See 

 A. IV.). 



5. If desired the water-, plankton-, or bottom-samples collected by 

 the expeditions of the participating states could be examined at the 

 laboratory on payment of a sum to be fixed by the international 

 council. 



6. In the central laboratory various important investigations of 

 general interest for the hydrographical and biological researches may 

 be carried out ; e.g. analyses of the relation between the various saline 

 constituents of the sea-water in the different parts of the ocean, 

 analyses of the nature and quantity of plankton, as proposed by 

 Prof. Cleve. 



7. Facilities should be afforded to the participating states for sending 

 students to the central laboratory to be trained for hydrographical and 

 biological work. 



8. The investigators of the participating states, or special expeditions, 

 might, if desired, be supplied from the central laboratory with instru- 

 ments, apparatus, and typical specimens of organisms and deposits for 

 hydrographical and biological research at cost price. 



Fhidtjof Nansen. 



