THE FISHERIES BIOLOGICAL STATION AT FAIRPORT, IOWA. 



By R. E. CoKER, Assistant in Charge of Scientific Inquiry, 

 U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 



mSTORY AND FUNCTIONS. 



The Fairport station ^vas established by act of Congress in 1908. 

 Its construction ^vas begun in 1909, and with temporary equipment 

 it began operations in June, 1910. The old laboratory, a frame 

 structure of approximately the same dimensions as the present 

 fireproof building, was constructed in 1912 and 1913. At the formal 

 dedication of the building on August 4, 1914, unusual public interest 

 was manifested by the attendance of 5,000 persons and by the con- 

 gratulatory addresses delivered by men of prominence in public life 

 and by scientific men of established repute. This building was 

 unfortunately destroyed by fire on December 20, 1917. The ofiice 

 furniture and files and such scientific records as were retained in the 

 office in original or duplicate form were saved; but records embodying 

 results of tedious investigations were lost, together with the scientific 

 equipment. A chief loss was the library, which, though not large, 

 included a rare collection of separate papers and monographs, particu- 

 larly such as related to fresh-water mussels of America and Europe. 



Fortunately, the station comprised a great deal more than the 

 laboratory building. The ponds and water system remained intact. 

 The personnel of the station adapted itself readily to the changed 

 conditions, and the -important scientific and administrative work of 

 the station was promptly resumed in the cramped quarters afforded 

 by the old "temporary laboratory," a small one-story building just 

 below the railroad, which had served a similar purpose in the first 

 years of the station's history. For nearly three years valuable 

 scientific work was carried on in these poor quarters, both by the 

 permanent scientific staff and by a limited number of specialists in 

 temporary association with the 'Bureau — men and women to whom 

 personal convenience or comfort was secondary to the achievement 

 ©f the objects to which the station was dedicated. 



An appropriation of $80,000 was promptly made by Congress for 

 the erection of a new and fireproof building. This, supplemented by 

 two small additional appropriations, made it possible to build and 

 partially to equip the present admirable building of brick, stone, and 

 concrete. Experience gained during the occupancy of the old 

 building, the resourcefulness and skill of the architect,^ and the good 

 spirit manifested by the constructing company, all combined to make 

 the new building superior in available space, convenience, and 

 serviceability, and an exceptional value in proportion to cost. 



' Prof. James M. White, professor of architecture and supervisin^arcliitect of the University of Illinois. 



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