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THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. XLII 



In America, however, we may consider it fortunate that 

 in order to win that form of recognition which leads to 

 advancement in material as well as in intellectual well- 

 being, it is necessary that our institutions of learning 

 should attract the respectful interest of broad minded 

 men of culture who are also leaders in the great affairs 

 of the commercial world. Much may be learned by those 

 desirous of furthering the already superior work of our 

 laboratories, through a study of the methods of manage- 

 ment of the great museums of New York City. Certain 

 it is that the direction of any successful laboratory de- 

 mands a two-fold capacity. On the one hand, we face a 

 problem of expenditure and receipts, and on the other 

 hand, a dependent but widely different problem of the 

 scientific scope and aim of the institution. A neglect to 

 attain to excellence of management from the purely com- 

 mercial standpoint, must react unfavorably upon the 

 ability of the institution to attain toward the realization 

 of its proper ideals in scientific achievement. It appears 

 to the writer that our institutions of learning which are 

 dependent upon the public for support owe it as a duty 

 to publish annually a clear, detailed and perfectly intel- 

 ligible financial statement. Surely funds devoted to the 

 giving of instruction or the prosecution of research can 

 not be too carefully accounted for or too wisely expended. 



It is unfortunate that throughout the length of our 

 great Atlantic seaboard there is no situation well suited 

 to the establishment of a marine laboratory which may 

 remain active throughout the year. In winter the frozen 

 harbors of the north, the relative inaccessibility and deso- 

 lation of the Carolina shores, the hurricane season of 

 Florida interpose practical barriers to the plan of main- 

 taining any one of our stations constantly open. We 

 have no Naples with its brilliant bay, its genial climate, 

 and over it as a veil the association of history deepening 

 every charmed impression of its beauty. 



