MARINtl BIOLOOIGAL STATION OF CANADA 



7 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 22a 



works necessary to assist them in their researches. This deficiency will, however, be 

 rapidly overcome, and the Station will in due time possess a fairly satisfactory reference 

 library. 



The opinion was frequently expressed upon the founding of the Marine Station, 

 that scientific workers would find it difficult, on account ot the great distances and the 

 necessary expense involved, in making use of the Station ; but this fear has happily 

 proved groundless, and the tables of the Station, during the three first seasons of its 

 work, have been practically fully occupied. During the initial season on the opening of 

 the Station the staff included Dr. R. R. Bensley, Demonstrator and Lecturer on Zoology 

 in the University of Toronto ; Mr. B. A. Bensley, a Fellow in Biology in the same 

 University ; Dr. Joseph Stafibrd, formerly Lecturer on Zoology in Toronto University, and 

 now a member of the staff of McGill University, Montreal. These were the first scientific 

 men to occupy tables and conduct investigations in the Station. Professor A. P. Knight, 

 of Queen's University, Kingston ; Professor A. B. Macallum, of Toronto University ; Dr. 

 F. S. Jackson, of McGill University ; and myself, also spent some time at work during 

 the season of 1899. Professor Penhallow, Professor MacBride, Professor John Macoun 

 and Dr. A. H. MacKay had all intended spending some weeks at the Station carrying 

 on scientific work, but were prevented, and these gentlemen wrote to me expressing 

 regret at their inability to carry out their intention. Professor L. W. Bailey, University 

 of Fredericton, N.B., and Miss Ganong, and Mr. F. T. Bower, of the staff of Queen's 

 College, Kingston, attended, but had not opportunity to carry on much systematic work. 



The subjects taken up during the first season were largely faunistic ; but they also 

 included a study of the food of fishes, and an investigation into the sardine fishery, and 

 the catches of fish in the sardine weirs, a survey of the clam fishery, as well as an exam- 

 ination of the spawn of A^arious marine fishes taken in the tow-nets ; a study of some of 

 the early stages in the life history of the lobster, and a research in physiological chemiS' 

 try, dealing with the analysis of the constituent matters in Aurelia and in Medusae 

 generally. 



During the season of 1900, the staff was augmented and included the following - 

 Professor Knight, Queen's University, Kingston ; Professor Macallum, Toronto Uni- 

 versity ; Professor Fowler, Queen's University, Kingston; Dr. Joseph Stafford, Toronto 

 University ; Dr. F. H. Scott, Toronto University ; Dr. F. Slater Jackson, McGill Uni- 

 versity ^ Dr. A. H. MacKay, Superintendent of Education, Halifax, and myself. 

 Researches more or less extended were carried on frf)m June until October 1. Professor 

 MacBride, of McGill University, and Professor Bailey, of Fredericton, spent a few days 

 at the laboratory, and the work during the season included a study of water-pollutions 

 in relation to fish life ; the food of sea urchins ; the parasites of fishes ; the blood of the 

 lobster ; the nerves of fishes ; cell studies, especially in regard to Marine Protozoa ; the 

 chemistry and physiology of jelly-fishes, a study of the early stages of Atlantic and 

 Pacific salmon, an examination of the local fauna, and a systematic survey of the flora 

 of the adjacent district. These, and certain morphological subjects, covered the work 

 completed at the station during the second year of its existence, and some results have 

 already been sufficiently advanced to enable them to be placed in the form of the prelim- 

 inary reports presented in the succeeding pages of this publication. 



It is to be sincerely hoped that the contributions to Canadian Marina Biology, due 

 to the founding of a Dominion Biological Station on our Atlantic shores, of which the 

 present publication constitutes the first instalment, may grow in succeeding years in 

 extent and value. 



The aims of the station could hardly be more comprehensive, for they embrace the 

 thorough investigation of plant and animal life in our eastern seas. The conditions 

 attached to work carried on within its walls could not be more liberal and free, for such 

 work is trammelled only by the condition that the results shall add to the knowledge of 

 our national resources in the deep, and shall more or less directly benefit our fisheries. 

 The bearing of such scientific researches were well expressed by the late Hon. Marshall 

 McDonald, United States Commissioner of Fisheries, when he said: — 'The knowledge 

 to be obtained by such investigations is absolutely necessary as a foundation upon which 



