182 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



mation concerning their geographical range, breeding places and habits, migrations 

 and laws governing the same, is very meager and indefinite. On the other hand. 

 there are thousands of other animals upon which these are more or less dependent, 

 concerning the life histories of which we know nothing. 



The work done in our present marine biological stations is worthy of high coin 

 mendatiou, and any effort to establish other stations should be encouraged. As I 

 have remarked, these stations are established only to afford students an opportunity 

 to study fresh marine forms and to promote and facilitate research purely scientific. 



It seems to me that the time is now ripe to establish on our coast Government 

 biological stations, whose objects should be not only to encourage, aid, and promote 

 scientific research, but also to devise means to turn into practical use, as far as 

 possible, all of our knowledge of marine life. These stations should give especial 

 attention to the study of the geographical distribution of all animals, their migrations, 

 and laws governing the same in fact, everything which bears on their life-histories 

 and their interrelations. 



These stations should maintain each a dozen or more tables for the use of inves- 

 tigators from time to time from our various educational institutions. These tables 

 should be used only by men who had already demonstrated their ability to do research 

 work of a high character, and whose purposes at the station were clearly defined. In 

 this respect I would suggest that the policy of the zoological station at Naples be 

 largely followed. This station is the most perfect, and from a scientific standpoint 

 the most useful, of any in the world. It has been in existence a little more than 

 twenty-five years, and its privileges have been used by many investigators from all 

 civil i/ed countries. It is in possession of more information concerning the life of the 

 Bay of Naples than is possessed of a like extent of sea by any other institution. It 

 is strictly a scientific institution, and in this respect has been eminently successful. 

 Its success is largely due to the facts that it is open during the entire year and that 

 its privileges are used only by a high grade of scientific men. A station of like 

 nature established somewhere on the Florida coast, and which would combine the 

 additional feature of the solving of biological problems which have a direct bearing 

 on the commercial products of the sea, is a greatly needed institution, and should, I 

 believe, be largely maintained by our Government and controlled by our United 

 States Fish Commission. 



The fishery interests of Florida coasts alone are steadily becoming of immense 

 importance. Her fishes, oysters, turtles, sponges, etc., are found in the markets of 

 our -i -ai inland cities. Concerning the growth of these products we know too little. 

 Concerning the plants and animals up<>n which they are, dependent for food we know 

 far le>s, and our knowledge of the enemies they encounter while- in the sea is very 

 deficient. <>nr information along these lines can best be increased through the agency 

 of one or more biological station*, as 1 have mentioned. I have remarked that these 

 stations should be controlled by the Fish Commission. The work for them to do lies 

 strictly within its province. It is partially equipped, both ;i* to men and apparatus, 

 for the work. 



The fact that this Congress is attended by representatives of many scientific insti- 

 tutions is a Millicient gnarantx of their appreciation of the work of the Commission and 

 their interest in the problems connected with the fishery industries. The solution of 

 these problems must fall to the labors of our trained scientific men, and in the establish- 

 ment of a Government marine biological station efforts should be made to invite to it 



