If) 



in the very mjidst of our field, where contact with the objects of our interest 

 must be almost continuous. It seemed, consecjuentlj-, clear that a house-boat 

 or so-called cabin boat of special construction, furnished as a biological 

 laboratory, but with an erjuipment . for minor experiments also, would meet 

 our needs far more pi-ecisely than a Vjuilding' on shore. 



This laboratory boat, launched in April, 1896, was built at Havana- from 

 plans di-awn up under mj- direction by Messrs. Gunn and McLane, of the 

 architectural department of the Univei-sity. A strong built hull of Wash- 

 ington fir supports a deck 20x00 ft., upon which is a cabin 10x56 ft. In build- 

 ing the hull extraordinary pains were taken to obtain a steady construction. 

 A three-inch solid bulk-head was run lengthwise through the middle, and two 

 keelsons divide the space between this central bulkhead and the gunwales. 

 Lateral strength was given by four series of diagonal braces, set as shown in 

 Plate VI, and placed every two feet, and by three hog-chains run from the 

 bottom of each gunwale over the middle bulk-head As a consequence, the 

 floor of the boat proved to be remarkably steady-, no tremor being noticeable 

 in the use of the higher powers of the microscope on minute objects suspend- 

 ed in fluids. The interior of the hull is ventilated by means of four hatch- 

 ways with movable covers, two at each end of the deck. 



The cabin has six large windows on each side, made freely movable for 

 ventilation, and also transom ventilators above the windows. The roof is 

 penetrated by four lai'ge ventilators and walls and roof are made double, as 

 a protection against the heat, by ceiling with Georgia pine. By virtue of 

 Ihese arrangements the laboratory rooms were remarkably comfortable during 

 even the hottest weather of the year. 



The interior of the cabin is divided into four rooms; an office and library at 

 one end 11 feet and inches by 10 feet, occupied by the Station staff: a main 

 laboratory 29 by 10 feet, primarily for visiting students and for the experi- 

 mental equipment; a kitchen 8 feet and 8 inches by 12 feet, with gasoline stove 

 and other cook's equipment, in which mid-day meals can be prepared for the 

 .Station force, and a small closet or store-room adjacent. The main laboratoiy 

 is provided with tables, two to each window, and with shelving against the 

 -walls for books, note-boxes, specimens, etc.. while down the center of the 

 room is a sink table 3x22 feet, covered with zinc and furnished with a water 

 supply for numerous small aquaria. A long overhead zinc-lined tank is sup- 

 plied by iron piping, with a screw end outside the boat to which the discharge 

 pipe of a hand force-pump can be readily attached. Stopcocks and glass 

 and rubber tubing make the necessary connections with the tanks and jars 

 used for aquarium work, the overflow being carried off by drainage pipes 

 which empty outside the hull. The space beneath the central table is enclosed 

 with doors and provided with shelves for general storage. 



The boat has no motive power but is intended to be towed from place to 

 place as occasion reiiuires. Our steam launch ''lUini"" proved, indeed, to have 

 sufficient power to transport this boat under ordinary circumstances. 



