PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1924 45 



THE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES 



Work at the Woods Hole (Mass.) biological laboratory was con- 

 ducted on a somewhat larger scale than at any time since the v^nr. 

 During the summer of 1923, and again in 1924, the laboratory was 

 opened to investigators not in the regular employ of the bureau. 

 Close cooperation has been maintained with the Marine Biological 

 Laboratory. 



The facilities of the laboratory Avere made use of during the entire 

 year by regular employees, including Dr. C. J. Fish and Marie 

 D. P. Fish, working respectively on the plankton and the larval 

 fishes of the Woods Hole region. Dr. P. S. Galtsolf also did here 

 much of the laboratory work in connection with the hydrographic 

 and biological survey of Long Island Sound. 



During the summer of 1923 Dr. J. P. Visscher carried on at 

 Woods Hole researches in connection with his study of the fouling 

 of ships' bottoms. Special investigations for the bureau were also 

 conducted by Dr. C. B. Wilson and Dr. R. E. Coker. The other 

 investigators. 13 in all (of which 4 were present for a few days only), 

 were engaged upon independent investigations of more or less direct 

 interest to the bureau. 



The laboratory was opened again in June, 1924, with Dr. W. H. 

 Rich acting as director. At the close of the fiscal year 13 inde- 

 pendent iuAestigators had availed themselves of the facilities of 

 the laboratory, and applications on hand indicated that all avail- 

 able space would be occupied before the summer was over. 



The Woods Hole laboratory is especially well located as a center 

 from which to carry on investigations of the important fisheries of 

 the North Atlantic. This laboratory imquestionably should be the 

 base for studies on the cod, pollock, haddock, mackerel, halibut, 

 flounders, lobsters, oysters, and many other important food fishes. 

 Proximity to the fishing grounds, adequate laboratory, library, and 

 dormitory facilities, and a good harbor for boats needed in these 

 investigations are all prime requisites for efficient work, and the 

 Woods Hole laboratory affords all of these. It is believed that the 

 time has come when the laboratory should be provided with a 

 permanent resident director and kept open the entire year for in- 

 vestigators who are working on fisher}^ problems. This could be done 

 at very little added expense other than the director's salary. 



The situation at the Beaufort (N. C) biological laboratory has 

 remained much the same as last 3^ear. Inadequate salaries have made 

 it impossible to secure a competent scientific director, so that the 

 only work of consequence carried on is that of terrapin culture. It is 

 expected that when the reclassification bill passed by Congress is 

 made effective for field employees it will be possible to secure the 

 type of men needed to develop the scientific work in fishery prob- 

 lems of the South Atlantic for which this station is admirably 

 fitted. During the summer of 1923 the facilities of the laboratory 

 were made available to the Navy Department, and several investi- 

 gators were present who were engaged in Avork relating to the pre- 

 vention of the fouling of ships' bottoms. Several independent inves- 

 tigators were also present. Tlie laboratory was reopened near the 

 close of the fiscal year and is being used again by the Navy Depart- 



