THE LABORATORY FOR MARINE INVESTIGATIONS 



AT BATAVIA 



A NEW TROPICAL MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION 



by 



Dr. A. L. J. SUNIER. 



(Chief of the Laboratory). 



In October 1910 the initial steps were taken for the erection of the 

 building of the new Laboratory for Marine Investigations (Laboratorium 

 voor het Onderzoek der Zee) at Batavia, on the site of the former Fisheries 

 Station (Visscherij-Station, cf. Photo No. 7). At this moment, (September 

 1922), the work is practically completed. 



The site, 1 H. A. in area, is situated north of the Passar Ikan (Fish 

 Market) on the West side of the Southerly extremity of the Old Harbour 

 Canal of Batavia and just South of the widening towards the West of that 

 canal. 



This widening (cf. Photo No. 8) which was excavated in 1830-1833 

 and subsequently enlarged, nov;^ serves as a harbour for fishermen. In 

 1845 it was still named "Freeman's Harbour". This name was due to the 

 fact that in the days of the Dutch East India Company another harbour 

 existed in the immediate vicinity, which has now been filled in, and was 

 the place where the ships of "Freemen" used to lie, i.e., of burgesses who 

 did trade with the outer agencies (buitencomptoiren) on their own account. 

 Hence the name of "Freeman's Harbour". 



The site is an historic one, not quite 300 M. from the place where at 

 one time the Castle of Batavia stood. 



The Old Harbour Canal itself dates from 1634, that is to say 15 years 

 after the founding, on May 30th 1619, by jAN PlETERSZOON COEN of the 

 town of Batavia, and is the original rhouth of the Tji LiwuTig, the river 

 along whose banks Old Batavia lined itself out, and to which, even in 

 early days, certain stretches, such as the Kali Besar, were canalized. 



Now Batavia has always suffered from two inconveniences, i,e , too 

 much water in the West Monsoon, and too little water in the East Mon- 

 soon. Added to which, the sea coast of Batavia, after its founding, showed 

 a serious silting up, which was due to a secular rising of a portion of the 

 North coast of Java. In connection with these two facts Old Batavia was 

 seriously troubled during the East Monsoon by the formation of a mud 



