PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1923. 27 



personnel, little in the way of scientific work could be accomplished. 

 Early in the year Isaac Ginsberg was appointed director of the 

 station. His attention has been given mainly to directing much 

 needed work in improving the grounds and the condition of the build- 

 ings, although some time has been found in which to add to the collec- 

 tion of Key West fishes. Observations have been made also on the 

 natural history of the top minnow, Gambusia, in connection with the 

 important work of distributing these fish for the purpose of con- 

 trolling mosquito breeding. The station is greatly in need of a fully 

 equipped laboratory building in which the investigation of problems 

 relating to the important fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and the 

 southern Atlantic States may be carried on. At present the only 

 space available for this work is a small room in the power house, 

 which is also used for storing the collections and as an office. 



The biological laboratory at Fairport, Iowa, has been operated 

 during the entire year. The work has been devoted in the main to 

 mussel and fish culture and to investigations on the natural history 

 of some of the more important food fishes. This has been discussed 

 in more detail in other parts of this report. The director has par- 

 ticipated, in an advisory capacity, in various conferences with State 

 legislative bodies with a view to the enactment of legislation for the 

 protection of mussels. The laboratory has also been called upon 

 frequently to render aid and advice to clubs, individuals, and State 

 fisheries organizations in the handling of fish, in planning, building, 

 and stocking ponds, and in pointing out the needs, care, and possible 

 improvement of the fisheries of certain sections. Members of the 

 staff conducted a statistical survey of the fisheries of the Illinois 

 River for the year 1921, and a report was submitted early in the fall 

 of 1922. The work was done in cooperation with the Illinois State 

 Natural History Survey, the United States Public Health Service, 

 and the Chicago Drainage District. It is the intention of the in- 

 vestigators to try to discover the effects of pollution and of reclama- 

 tion of submerged lands along the Illinois River upon public health 

 and recreation, agriculture, and the aquatic resources of the river. 

 The study of the relation of the Hemiptera to the pond culture of 

 fishes was continued by Dr. C. B. Wilson. 



During the year two of the station's investigators, Dr. A. D. 

 Howard and Barry J. Anson, resigned. The superintendent, H. L. 

 Canfield, was transferred to the Mississippi River rescue station in 

 August, 1922, and his place was filled by H. O. Hesen, jr. 



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