13G REroKT OF C'UMMISSIONKK OV FISH AND FISHERIES. 



MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES. 



"Woods IIoi.e, ^NLassaciiuskits (Huc4U M. Smith, Dikector). 



Durino- the .season of 1901-2 the work at the Woods Hole laboratory 

 was under the direction of Dr. Hugh M. Smith, assistant in charge of 

 division. Dr. H. C. Bumpus, who had been in charge of the labora- 

 torj^ for a number of years, was unal^le to continue his relations with 

 the Commission owing to other duties. 



The usual facilities for research and collecting existed, and the rare 

 opportunit}^ for marine biological work here afforded was appreciated 

 by the representatives of many institutions of learning. Two large 

 fish-traps operated for the laboratory in Vineyard Sound and Buzzards 

 Bay furnished much useful material. The steamer Msh Ilavjk and 

 the schooner Grawini^ were temporaril}- attached to the station during 

 the entire summer, and the steam yacht Plicdarope and the steam 

 launches Blue TTV??^, Cygnet^ and Merganser were in constant service. 

 The director had the efficient assistance of Prof. R. W. Tower, Mr. 

 George H. Sherwood, and Mr. Vinal N. Edwards. 



Among the biologists who occupied tables, the following carried on 

 special investigations in behalf of the Commission: 



Dr. Gary N. Calkins, of Columl)ia University, studied the marine 

 protozoa found in the vicinity of the station. This group of animals 

 has been neglected ])y systematists in tlie United States. The protozoa 

 ai-e numerous, and are important as being the ultimate animals on 

 wliicli tlie higlier animals are dependent for food. Dr. Calkins found 

 the water in tlie immediate vicinity of the station to contain many 

 species and individuals, including a number of species not previously 

 described. His report, published in the Fish Commission Bulletin for 

 1001, is an important contribution from one who is a leading authority 

 on the sul)jcct. 



Dr. George H. Parker, of Harvard University, studied and reported 

 on the effects of light, temperature, gravity, currents, and otlier natu- 

 lal agencies on the movements of copepod.s. These minute crustaceans 

 are found throughout the 3^ear in varying abundance, and constitute 

 one of the most important foods of young and small fishes, 3'oung lob- 

 sters, and other animals. Dr. Parker's observations and experiments 

 were directed to the determination of the physical factors controlling 

 the appearance and disappearance of copepods in a given region at 

 different times, and his conclusions bear on the movements and abun- 

 dance of the food-fishes whose immediate or ultimate pal)ulum the 

 copepods are. His paper is published in the Fish Commission Bulletin 

 for 1901. 



Prof R. \s . Tower, of Brown Universit}^ conducted a number of 

 chemical and physiological investigations addressed to the food-fishes 

 of the region. An itHjuiry regarding the organic constituents of the 

 scales of fish and their use in themanufaftui-e of gelatin was conducted 



