28 EEPOKTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. 



research. In consequence of this condition, it is found impossible 

 to keep the lower positions continuously filled, and the effective per- 

 sonnel is always less than the nominal personnel as authorized by the 

 Congress. That a gratifying degree of progress in investigational 

 work has been made during the fiscal year under report is due in 

 great measure to the labors of loyal and self-sacrificing assistants 

 who have devoted themselves permanently or temporarily to national 

 service through the Bureau of Fisheries. It is only fair to them 

 that this statement should be made. 



BIOLOGICAI. LABORATORIES. 



Owing to exceptional conditions none of the Bureau's biological 

 laboratories were in regular and full operation during the fiscal 

 year 1919. 



The laboratory at Beaufort, N. C, had been surrendered to the 

 Navy Department for the period of the war, the Bureau having 

 entirely withdrawn except as the experiments in terrapin culture 

 were continued in such manner as to prevent the loss of valuable 

 stock or the interruption of experiments which involved observa- 

 tions and records during periods of several years. At the close of 

 the fiscal j^ear negotiations between the Department of Commerce 

 and the Navy Department were in progress looking to the return of 

 the station to this Bureau. 



The Woods Hole (Mass.) laboratory was largely occupied by the 

 Navy Department, and the Bureau had either abandoned tempo- 

 rarily or transferred to other points the investigations normally 

 conducted at this station. 



The Fairport (Iowa) biological station was in fuller operation than 

 any other, but since it had been impossible to replace immediately 

 the main building destroyed by fire in December, 1917, the station 

 was operated during the summer of 1918 with a reduced force. 

 Nevertheless, through the loyal cooperation of the permanent per- 

 sonnel of the station and the cheerful submission by temporary inves- 

 tigators to service imder conditions of discomfort and inadequate 

 far-ilities, the progress of the work of the station suffered much less 

 interruption than might have been expected. Some important 

 phases of the work of this station have already been alluded to in 

 connection with various special subjects. 



In the early part of the fiscal year advertisements were made 

 soliciting bids for the construction of a fireproof building at Fairport, 

 as authorized by Congress with the appropriation of $80,000 for its 

 construction and equipment. Notwithstanding that the Bureau had 

 made a special effort to reduce the cost of the building as much as 

 possible without sacrificing the essentials of safety and efficiency, the 

 lowest bid received was found to be beyond the available appropria- 

 tion. Steps were taken immediately to revise the plans, partly by 

 the elimination of some desirable facilities and partly by the most 

 careful attention to such details of construction as might permit a 

 reduction in costs without sacrifice of value. Bids were again solic- 

 ited during the spring of 1919, but again none was received that came 

 within the amount of tlie appropriation. It was, therefore, deemed 

 unavoidable that a supplemental estimat(^ be submitted to the 

 Congress. This having been done, an additional appropriation of 



