140 University of California Publications in Zoology |Vou.9 
B. INTRODUCTION 
This year, 1911, is the twentieth anniversary of the first 
movements that led to the establishment of the Marine Biological 
Station of San Diego. It is also the tenth anniversary of the 
beginning of definite, continuous effort toward that end. The 
time is fitting, therefore, for a fuller general presentation of the 
institution’s career, structure, accomplishments, and purposes 
than has yet been written. The account is not merely narra- 
tional and deseriptive; it is a sort of confession of faith as to 
the larger meaning of science, of biology in particular. It has 
been prepared with the desire to make it informing and inter- 
esting to those immediately responsible for the life and work of 
the station, i.e., its patrons, business managers, and investigators ; 
to those who are engaged in similar but wholly independent 
enterprises; and last but in no wise least, to earnest, inquiring 
people generally. 
Sections B to G will be of interest mostly to the first two 
eroups, in as much as these sections are a detailing of how an 
institution of research in pure science, starting with almost 
nothing in a material way and with almost no real friends, may 
yet grow to a state of considerable size and breadth of outlook. 
Sections E, G, and H ought to interest a number of persons in 
no way connected with or concerned about the station as such. 
Biologists and oceanographers especially should find items in 
sections F and G that would appeal to them. The concluding 
section has been put into the story for the reason that the desire 
to make the Station an instrument of general public enlighten- 
ment is embedded very fundamentally in the conceptions upon 
which the institution rests. “ 
On glancing over the section headings the general reader 
will, presumably, be inclined to turn to the last two sections and 
read them first if not exclusively. To read this last part first 
would be in no wise objectionable; indeed such a course may 
be commended. But I would strongly urge that the sections 
‘““The Station as it is to-day’’ and ‘‘Seientifie results already 
