THE COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES = 425 
of volunteer assistants was brought together. Professors 
S. I. Smith and A. E. Verrill took charge of the inverte- 
brates collected; Dr. W. G. Farlow of Harvard studied 
alge; J. W. P. Jenks, Alpheus Hyatt, and several others, 
came down for longer or shorter periods to assist in or 
inspect the methods of work, or to avail themselves of the 
opportunities for study. 
The seaside laboratory experiment of Agassiz at Peni- 
kese Island is widely known as the first attempt in Amer- 
ica at establishing a summer school of biology for teachers, 
combined with opportunities for research for advanced 
students. It did not succeed in forming a permanent 
institution, chiefly on account of its almost inaccessible 
position, and the early death of its founder. Alpheus 
Hyatt, at Annisquam, Mass., for some years maintained, 
against serious obstacles, a small but efficient laboratory, 
which finally had to be closed for want of adequate support 
by students. 
Baird’s work at Wood’s Hole had but begun when he 
realized that quantities of material were daily brought in 
and not utilized because not bearing directly on the work 
in hand. He formed the plan of inviting students of zo- 
ology to come to Wood’s Hole during the season’s Fish 
Commission work; pointing out that material for study 
was abundant, that opportunities for making personal 
collections were good, and that the Commission would do 
all in its power to facilitate their operations. He arranged 
for cheap board. The rough and ready buildings used by 
the Commission for its own purposes were so planned as to 
accommodate working tables for a limited number of 
students. 
That the Commission could not legally establish a 
laboratory for other than Government work was evident; 
