1902] Naples and Monterey 



Naples. After viewing the interesting public aquarium on the 

 lower floor, and being "stung" by both the electric ray and the 

 Italian attendant, I returned to the open air and mounted a 

 flight of stairs to visit the scientific portion of the establishment. 

 The door was opened just far enough to frame the figure of a The 

 German with a fine head of aggressively cut hair, who met my ^o'^btjul 

 advances with calmness. Was I one of the Studenten? No. '""'^""^ 

 A Herr Professor? Again I pleaded not guilty. Who was I, 

 then, who wished to inspect and why.? An inspiration finally 

 came to the Herr with the pompadour — he would telephone 

 the Herr Director. And when that gentleman shortly arrived 

 1 was ushered into his presence. 



I explained that I was interested in marine biology and 

 would welcome the opportunity of visiting the famous Naples 

 Station. Dr. Dohrn looked at my card, opened a drawer 

 of his desk, and took from it a newspaper clipping which he 

 handed me with the remark, "Are you the gentleman of whom 

 this article speaks?" To my amazement it was a long account 

 ■ of the opening of the Hopkins Seaside Laboratory as published 

 by one of our San Francisco newspapers. 



I found Dr. Dohrn, who spoke English perfectly, most The 

 cordial, and an enthusiast in his chosen field of work. He sordid 

 had many questions to ask concerning the new Laboratory, 

 which he wished the fullness of success. He believed that Dr. 

 Jordan had worked in the Naples Station, and frankly expressed 

 his respect for him personally and admiration of his achieve- 

 ments. In the library, a little later, he took pains to show me 

 a shelf of books by Dr. Jordan, as evidence of their appreciation 

 of him. This library, besides the sets of journals, was particu- 

 larly strong in biological brochures by scientists all over the 

 world, just such a collection as we should strive to gather in our 

 own station on Monterey Bay. 



The Naples laboratory is well arranged for study purposes. 

 Private rooms are provided for special investigators, each with 

 its small aquarium, microscopes, cases for books from the main 

 library, storage tanks on the lower floor — and all immaculately 

 clean. 



Dr. Dohrn was interested in the material available in Mon- 

 terey Bay, and especially in the large size of the sea anemones 

 and starfish I had there observed. I avoided explaining that 



C 131 1 



director 



