July 4, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



Without having had an opportunity to con- 

 fer with viniversity men on this special sub- 

 ject, I venture to offer some views and sug- 

 gestions regarding a proposed cooperative 

 arrangement between the zoological labora- 

 tories of the universities and the scientific 

 bureaus of the government. 



The universities can perform an invaluable 

 service to the government by keeping in touch 

 with the progress and demands of the applica- 

 tions of science in operations of the bureaus. 



The government can render a useful service 

 to the universities by keeping them informed 

 of zoological problems with which the bureaus 

 are confronted and of subjects in which the 

 researches of pur© science would be of.value. 



The results of university research tljat are 

 of significant value to the government sbq^fld 

 be promptly communicated to the respective 

 biu-eaus. 



To render the proposed cooperation effective, 

 there should be some kind of organization in 

 which the universities and the government are 

 adequately represented, to the end that the 

 needs of the government are fully made known 

 and the possibility of the universities' filling 

 those needs is fully canvassed. 



There might be maintained a catalogue or 

 register of zoological students and instructors 

 in the universities, with their peculiar quali- 

 fications and their special subjects of study, 

 and a statement of the conditions under which 

 they might accept government employment, 

 and a catalog of current and proposed govern- 

 mental zoological investigations, with an ac- 

 count of tbeir objects, scope, duration, needed 

 personnel, etc. 



The definite aims to be met would be to 

 locate men for permanent or temporary serv- 

 ice in government bureaus and to encourage 

 the pursuit of promising investigations. It 

 not infrequently happens that the government 

 has need for men of peculiar qualifications 

 and fitness for special zoological work, and 

 the usual method of advertisement fails to 

 reach or appeal to available men well fitted for 

 that work. A central organization or com- 

 mittee could locate such men and bring to 

 their attention the government's needs. 



It sometimes occurs that in the course of 

 investigations in the commercial or technical 

 aspects of zoology, lack of scientific data may 

 impede or prevent progress, so that work must 

 be suspended until the required data are ob- 

 tained. At the same time it may, and prob- 

 ably not infrequently does, happen that ad- 

 vanced zoological students are in position to 

 take up investigations where the subject is 

 not of so much consequence as the training 

 in research. In such cases the government 

 bureaus may supply problems that will afford 

 excellent research training to the students, 

 give promise of definite results for publica- 

 tion, inspire students with the feeling that 

 they are contributing to the general welfare, 

 and at the same time expedite work under- 

 taken by the government. 



One of the real hindrances to the proper 

 development of the fishery service is the diffi- 

 culty in securing assistants who, with such a 

 knowledge of zoology as is imparted in a uni- 

 versity course, are willing to enter the lower 

 grades, work their way upward, and make this 

 subject their life work or at least give it 

 serious thought for a reasonable time. In 

 aquatic biology, in aquiculture, in the various 

 branches of technology as applied to water 

 products, there is an inviting field in which 

 there is ample opportmiity for interesting and 

 important original investigation. 



A drawback hitherto has been the compara- 

 tively low compensation paid. There are, 

 however, certain perquisites that must be 

 taken into consideration, and there is reason 

 to hope that Congress will soon make a read- 

 justment of salaries. Pending the time when 

 various schools of fishery may be established 

 at the universities on a par with schools of 

 forestry, the universities can render a distinct 

 service to the Bureau of Fisheries (and to the 

 fishery departments of the various state gov- 

 ernments) by making an effort to direct th.o 

 attention of students and graduates to the 

 inducements and attractions afforded by the 

 government fishery work, and perhaps to adapt 

 parts of zoological courses and the research 

 work of graduate students to practical prob- 

 lems associated with the country's aquatic re- 



