APPENDIX. 



THE WORK AND THE AIMS OF THE MARINE 

 BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 



C. O. WHITMAN. 



THE Marine Biological laboratory of Wood's Holl combines the 

 functions of a research laboratory with those of a school. While it 

 differs thus from the marine laboratories of Europe, it may also 

 be said to take a somewhat exceptional position among American 

 sea-side laboratories, both in its organization and its scope of work. 

 It supplements the work of the biological departments of the schools 

 and colleges, and at the same time serves as a scientific centre for 

 investigation. It provides not only for general courses of study 

 in zoology and botany, but also what is of quite exceptional 

 importance -r-for technical training preparatory to investigation and 

 special instruction and guidance for beginners in investigation. It is 

 this advanced instruction that makes the school tributary to the side 

 of original investigation, in which the work and the aims of the 

 laboratory centre. Research is the dominating function of the 

 laboratory ; instruction is merely a means to this end. 



Although the laboratory is wholly free from government control, it 

 is truly national in organization and aims. It is governed by a board 

 of trustees, on which the leading colleges and universities of the 

 country are represented. Its officers of instruction and investigation 

 have been drawn from no less than fifteen educational institutions, 

 and its membership has extended to one hundred and thirty-one 

 colleges, universities, seminaries, academies, schools and laboratories. 



From the beginning of this undertaking it has been clearly seen 

 that the realization of its aims depended largely on securing the general 

 support of the colleges, and the active cooperation of all who were 

 interested in the foundation of a national marine station. To secure 

 these ends the clearly defined aims of the laboratory were made 



