THE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY OF THE BU- 

 REAU OF FISHERIES AT WOODS HOLE, 

 MASS.: REPORT OF WORK FOR 

 THE SEASON OF 1907 



DR. FRANCIS B. SUMNER 

 Director of the Laboratory. 



I. Recent Improvements in Equipment, Etc. 



1. Two rooms upon the third floor of the laboratory 

 building have been reconstructed so as to serve 

 for the reception of the specimens comprising the local 

 reference museum. These last were moved from their 

 former inadequate quarters at the commencement of the 

 summer, and have been subjected to a thorough over- 

 hauling. 



2. A considerable number of standard scientific works 

 were purchased by the bureau as the nucleus of a per- 

 manent reference library; though it is true that only a 

 beginning has thus far been made. The already great 

 collection of reprints and other miscellaneous donations, 

 together with the reports of the scientific departments of 

 this and other governments, has steadily increased. It 

 was found, however, that the publications of many of our 

 foremost American biologists were scarcely represented 

 on the shelves of the library. With a view to remedying 

 this serious lack, a circular was sent by the director to 

 about three hundred American men of science, chiefly 

 biologists, asking for contributions. A considerable 

 number of these men responded liberally, and many hun- 

 dreds of pamphlets and bound volumes have been re- 

 ceived. It must be added with regret, however, that 

 many others among those addressed have not yet thought 

 it worth their while to place their writings in an institu 



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