REPORT ON OCEANOGRAPHY 107 



pography in the section, the physical and mechanical properties of the 

 sediments, the bottom population with special reference to forms that 

 might attack the sheathing on the cable, and the currents to be en- 

 countered at various depths. During the past year, a grant was awarded 

 by the National Science Foundation to support the work under Dr. 

 T. G. Thompson or Dr. T. J. Chow on the study of copper and other 

 heavy metals in the sea. 



Because of the rapid development of the field programs during the 

 past two years there has so far been little opportunity for the prepara- 

 tion and publication of formal papers. A large amount of materials 

 has been prepared and is available in the form of reports upon request. 



Before describing some of the research topics under investigation 

 in the Department of Oceanography I wish to turn briefly to the Friday 

 Harbor Laboratories, first because the activities of this institution have 

 always been reported to the Pacific Science Congresses, and secondly 

 because the Department of Oceanography continues to participate in 

 its program. As mentioned earlier, the Laboratories are now a re- 

 search facility in the College of Arts and Sciences. They are adminis- 

 tered by an Executive Committee, Dr. Richard H. Fleming, director; 

 and Dr. A. W. Martin, Jr., executive officer of the Department of Zo- 

 ology, and Dr. C. Leo Hitchcock, executive officer of the Department of 

 Botany, as members. The Laboratories function as an inter-depart- 

 mental organization and during the past two summers, courses of instruc- 

 tion and research have been offered by the following departments: Bo- 

 tany, Fisheries, Geography, Meteorology, Oceanography, and Zoology. 

 During the summer of 1953 there were in residence 43 students (almost 

 entirely graduate students), 12 independent research investigators, and 

 a faculty of 11. During the past four years, there have been notable 

 improvements in the facilities. Ten housekeeping cottages have been 

 built as well as five duplex buildings for family use, and five dormitories 

 for single individuals. The housekeeping cottages, in particular, now 

 make it possible for investigators to utilize the laboratories either on 

 a continuous year-around basis or for short periods at any time of the 

 year. The main improvement in the laboratory has been the installa- 

 tion of an all-glass sea water system that has made it possible to hatch 

 the eggs and rear the larvae of many of the invertebrate animals. Dr. 

 Emery Swan, who was appointed resident scientist in 1948, resigned in 

 1952 to accept a faculty position with the University of New Hamp- 

 shire. No replacement has yet been made. Dr. Koji Hidaka was a visit- 

 ing professor at the Laboratories during the summer of 1951. 



Some of the major research activities of the Department of Oceanog- 

 raphy will nov/ be briefly outlined. Projects in chemical oceanography 



