10 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



is able to comply with the strict, though not unreasonable, conditions 

 which necessarily govern the expenditure of this fund, is sure of 

 serious consideration. 



NAPLES TABLE. 



Among the applications for the occupancy of the Smithsonian seat at 

 the Naples table during the years 1897-98, the following have been 

 favorably acted upon : 



Dr. Bradley M. Martin, of the University of Chicago, whose work has 

 been chiefly in the field of the algse, and who has published several 

 papers detailing his researches, was appointed for November, 1897, his 

 period at Naples to be supplemented by additional investigation in the 

 laboratory of Dr. Strasburger, of the University at Bonn. 



Dr. H. W. Conn, of the department of biology, Wesleyan University, 

 received the appointment for six weeks early in the year 1898, Dr. 

 Dohrn, the superintendent of the station, kindly arranging for his 

 accommodation, although the Smithsonian table was occupied at that 

 time. The fact that Dr. Dohrn finds himself not only willing, but able, 

 to provide for two or, as in this case, even three students at the Smith- 

 sonian table during the same period, is a courtesy much appreciated by 

 the Institution. 



Dr. D. M. Mottier, of the State University of Indiana, who wished to 

 supplement his investigations at Bonn and Leipzig by some weeks at 

 Naples, was appointed for the months of March and April, 1898. 



Dr. W. T. Swingle, of the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 now honorary custodian of algse in the United States National Museum, 

 occupied the Smithsonian seat at Naples for an additional month dur- 

 ing the spring of 1898. 



Dr. J. H. Gerould, of Dartmouth College, who prosecuted his inves- 

 tigations in the laboratory of Professor De Lacaze-Duthiers, at Eoscoff, 

 Finisterre, France, during the summer, was appointed to the Smith- 

 sonian table at Naples for the month of November, 1898. 



Although applications for the privilege of the table are often received 

 far in advance of the period for which occupancy is desired, in order 

 that all investigators may be given an equal opportunity to secure 

 appointment, no application is considered more than six months in 

 advance of the date for which the seat is desired, and no appointment 

 is made for a longer period than six months. An occupant is not, how- 

 ever, debarred from applying for an extension of time or for future 

 reappointment. 



It may be repeated here that with a formal application for appoint- 

 ment, made to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the can- 

 didate should submit such credentials as he may desire to have on 

 record, among which should be an outline of his scientific history and a 

 list of his published memoirs. Investigators are expected to make a 

 report to the Institution at the end of their term at the table, or at the 

 end of three months, in case of a six months' occupancy. 



