Vou. 2] Ritter.—Introduction. xili 
basis of ideas that had beed taking shape for several years—those, 
in a word, which now animate the undertaking—San Pedro was 
believed to be the most favorable locus for whatever might be 
done. For this summer it was resolved to aim particularly at 
dredging operations in the shallow waters, made as thorough as 
the time and equipment would permit, with a reconnoissance to 
San Diego if possible. The University being unable to supply 
the money for this, a successful appeal was made to friends of 
the University and of science in Los Angeles and elsewhere. 
Funds to the amount of about $1,800 were secured, with which a 
large though open gasoline launch was hired and fitted for the 
work. She was kept going almost constantly from May 20 to 
August 6. While the dredging and trawling were the chief oecu- 
pation, other lines of work were not wholly neglected, particu- 
larly plankton collecting and temperature taking. The proposed 
run to San Diego was made, and from the days devoted to the 
work there a good impression of the biological conditions of that 
region was obtained. 
For the work on shore on old bath house was rented and con- 
verted into a simple laboratory. The summer of 1902 was lke- 
wise spent at San Pedro, but this year nothing was done at sea, 
attention being restricted to the httoral fauna. 
During both these seasons formal courses of instruction in 
Zoology were given as part of the regular University Summer 
Session. 
Before the next summer the laboratory building and 
best collecting grounds within the small inner harbor at San 
Pedro had been destroyed by the harbor improvements being 
prosecuted there by the U. S. Government. Owing to this and 
to encouraging proposals for financial aid from San Diego, led 
by Dr. Fred Baker, and to the good impression made by the 
experiences there in 1901, it was resolved, in the early spring of 
1903, to move the base of operations to San Diego. During the 
vears 1903 and 1904 the boat house at Coronado Beach, given and 
in part fitted up by the Coronado Beach Company, served as ¢ 
laboratory building. 
The work at San Pedro was made possible largely through 
the interest and efforts of Mr. J. A. Graves, Mr. H. W. O’Mel- 
