78 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



to marine biology. Many separate numbers and volumes from general 

 scientific series, are, however, on the shelves, since these contain papers 

 of importance to fisheries investigation. The result is that in a 

 relatively small space is concentrated a quantity of material, all of 

 which bears more or less directly on the subjects that are of primary 

 concern to the users of the library. Working at a university library, 

 our men usually find that in order to assemble the various papers 

 needed for a particular problem, they must consult two or three 

 different departmental libraries as well as the general university 

 collection. This annoyance is of course spared them here. Our dis- 

 tinctive contribution to fisheries research is, therefore, satisfaction of 

 the specialized demands of scientific work in a limited field. A uni- 

 vershVf librarian can not possibly give so much attention to all of the 

 many interests he must serve, and therefore he usually gives it to 

 none of them. 



The fact that a number of investigators working at various points 

 along the coast for other commissions, not infrequently come to the 

 California State Fisheries Laboratory to do their reading, is evidence 

 that our service is appreciated. 



Future. — Prospects for library development during the coming 

 fiscal year are very encouraging. Apparently more funds are avail- 

 able for 1926 than were for either 1924 or 1925. The plan is to employ 

 a full-time librarian with zoological training and a clerical assistant, 

 whereas the work of the past two years has been handled by this assist- 

 ant and a librarian who worked, on the average, only about three days 

 a, week. The records are now in such shape that progress in both 

 ordering and cataloging is much easier than it was in 1924. The obvious 

 needs of the library, aside from the acquisition of more volumes, are 

 further work on the card bibliography, binding, and subject classifi- 

 cation of the reprint collection. If present plans are carried out, and 

 adequate support is maintained, the library should increase its useful- 

 ness very greatly before the 1928 Biennial Report goes to press. 



