8 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



which has been ])<)th designed and eons tr acted ))y Doctor Schumann 

 for conductino- this advanced and difficult research, is described in his 

 report. The interest among specialists in this investigation has been 

 so general that the Institution has permitted Doctor Schumann to pub- 

 lish without delay significant discoveries made in the course of his 

 experiments, on the condition of announcing them at the same time to 

 the Institution and mentioning the relation of his work to the Hodg- 

 kins fund. 



InFebruar}', 11K)3, Prof, E. W. Scripture, of Yale University, whose 

 special researches relative to speech or phonetics have called attention 

 to his work, received a Hodgkins grant for the construction of a 

 "vowel machine," which, when perfected, he hopes will be equivalent 

 to devising a perfect vox humana stop for the organ, which maj' 

 replace the one now in use. In accordance with the rule of the insti- 

 tution the application for this grant was referred for an opinion to 

 the highest accessible authority before approval. 



A grant in form of a su])scription for a specified number of copies 

 of the journal Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Electricity 

 has been again approved, it ])eing apparent that the puljlication is of 

 service to the specialists and educational estal)lisliments that have been 

 placed on the list to receive it through the Institution. 



An}' general allotment of the income from the Hodgkins fund is 

 precluded ])y the terms of the be(pu>st, but it may be again repeated 

 that every request for such assistance receives attention, and an 

 application by an in^'estigator who is able to comply with the con- 

 ditions established in accordance with the will of the donor is sure of 

 serious consideration. 



NAPLES TABLE. 



The contract for the Smithsonian Table in the Naples Zoological 

 Station, which was extended from June 30, 1902, through December 

 of that year, lias been again renewed for one year from January 1, 1902. 



The applications for the Smithsonian seat have been so numerous 

 and so urgent that the Institution felt called on to engage another table 

 for a pai't of the 3'ear. This, however, Doctor Dohrn could not arrange 

 for, but with his. usual kindness he promised in any event to accom- 

 modate all the Smithsonian appointees. He has not onh^ done this, 

 but in several instances has exceeded the requests of the Institution. 

 During the period from March 1 till Jul}' 1, 1003, the table had con- 

 stantly two occupants. It should be added that whenever the dates of 

 applications interfered with each other the approval of the Secretary 

 was accorded, with the understanding that the tenure of the seat should 

 be siibject to such modification as might be suggested by the Director 

 of the Station, 



Dr. C. W. Prentiss, of Harvard University, whose application for 

 an extension of his occupancy was noted in my last report, remained 



