SECRETARY'S REPORT 159 



Evaporation in excess of precipitation is of greater ecological im- 

 portance than rainfall alone. To measure this quantity a 4-foot- 

 diameter evaporation pan was installed near the laboratory. Water 

 loss in excess of rainfall for the dry season of 1957 was as follows 

 (inches) : 



January 3.511 March 6.629 



February 5.344 April 8.146 



The dry season was unusually long and rainfall did not exceed 

 evaporation until the last few days of May. For that month the net 

 gain was 0.8 inch. 



BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, AND IMPROVEMENTS 



The major building project of the year was the construction of a 

 12-by-24-foot above-ground wooden house for use of the workmen 

 living on the island. This house has shower, toilet, and full concrete 

 slab floor at the ground level. The generator house and floor were 

 enlarged, and a third diesel generator was installed in this building. 

 Near Chapman House a new concrete septic tank was built. In order 

 to decrease fire hazard, an isolated gasoline-kerosene storage shed was 

 constructed. 



A large part of the work of building a new unloading dock was com- 

 pleted. The project requires bridging of the mouth of Allee Creek, 

 cutting and filling a slope to make a bed for car track and walkway, 

 and extending the unloading dock in front of the generator house. 

 Completion of this work will permit abandonment of the old wooden 

 dock which has been extended again and again because of silting. 



Minor construction and maintenance work included building steel 

 and wooden shelves and tables for the darkroom and stockroom in the 

 new laboratory; repairing and painting metal cabinets and shelves 

 which were badly rusted ; painting two launches, the aluminum run- 

 about, and several of the old wooden buildings; and replacing all 

 broken screens. All this construction and repair work was done by 

 Mr. Vitola and the regular staff of island laborers. 



Among the equipment received on the island was a 14.5-KWA Cater- 

 pillar generator. The electric plant now includes three generators, 

 each sufficient for all present electrical needs. Additional electrical 

 apparatus has increased the danger of fire which would cause ir- 

 reparable loss of the valuable materials on the island. As an added 

 safeguard, 5 C0 2 and 3 water-pump extinguishers were added to the 

 fire-fighting equipment. 



Much of the equipment received was for use in the laboratory and 

 in scientific work. This included two window air-conditioners, attic 

 fans, oscillating fans, study lamps, room dehumidifiers, a laboratory 

 refrigerator and freezer, small drying oven, compound and dissecting 



