APPENDIX 10 
REPORT ON THE CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA 
Sir: It gives me pleasure to present herewith the annual report of 
the Canal Zone Biological Area for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1949. 
IMPROVEMENTS MADE 
A new building, halfway up to the laboratory level and near the 
generators, was completed. The ground floor will be used largely 
for the woodworking machinery and carpenter shop, the upper part 
as living quarters for the warden-caretaker. ‘The old cottage just 
below the large laboratory building, formerly occupied by the warden- 
caretaker, has been converted into a very desirable two-room lab- 
oratory unit. The forest is close by, making the building exception- 
ally suitable for observation and study of mammals and other forms. 
Work on the 14,000-gallon concrete gravity-flow water tank was 
halted by heavy rains which made it impossible to use the truck and 
large concrete mixer. However, the excavation is made and the 
gravel and reinforcement iron are at the site; 2 or 3 weeks of dry 
weather will permit completion of the tank. 
During the year, from allocated funds, the launch Snook was 
purchased from The Panama Canal. This is a very sturdy, well- 
built boat 40 feet long, with an 11-foot beam—large enough to ac- 
commodate 40 passengers. It is in very good condition and will 
serve even for towing. 
New generators were installed during the year, providing a depend- 
able source of electricity for continuous use. 
Eight steel herbarium cases, needed for many years, have been 
received and the herbarium specimens transferred to them. These 
specimens are now in excellent condition. Eight steel storage cabinets 
were also received, providing dustproof storage for much of the 
laboratory equipment. 
SCIENTISTS AND THEIR STUDIES 
Twenty-nine scientists came to the laboratory during the year. 
Although many of them stayed only a short time, their acquaintance 
with the island and its facilities will no doubt bring others to the 
laboratory in the near future. The contribution of these scientists 
has added materially to our knowledge of life under tropical conditions. 
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