.\i36s, su:r, 



A ferry (left) and the laboratory's boat transport personnel and materials between Orient Point 



and Plum Island. 



THE ISLAND LABORATORY 



The island location of the laboratory is itself 

 a part of the safety precautions. Because of its 

 isolation, as well as its special facilities, the 

 laboratory is able to study devastating foreign 

 animal diseases without endangering livestock on 

 the mainland. Congress provided this protection 

 for U.S. livestock by specifying that the labora- 

 tory be on an island entirely under Federal con- 

 trol, and be separated from the mainland by deep 

 navigable water. 



Plum Island is located 110 miles from New 

 York City — l^o miles from the eastern end of 

 the north fork of Long Island and about 6l/> 

 miles from Connecticut. It is reached by ferry 

 from Orient Point, and by small craft operated 

 by the laboratoiy. 



The island was named by early explorers who 

 observed beach plums growing along the shores. 

 In 1659 the ruling Indian chief of Long Island 

 sold Plum Island to the first European owner for 

 a coat, a barrel of biscuits, and 100 fishhooks. 



The U.S. Government bought the island in 

 the 1890's and established Fort Terry, a coast 

 artillery post. The island was assigned to the 

 Army Chemical Corps after World War II. On 

 July 1, 1954, Plum Island — except for a light- 

 house — was formallv transferred to the USDA. 



Preliminary studies were stalled in 1954; the 

 laboratory's research was expanded into a broad 

 program covering many foreign animal diseases 

 when additional facilities became available in 

 1956. 



Laboratory sewage is heated in these 30,000- 

 gallon tanks for decontamination. 



11 



