i8o 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. IV, No. 8, 
I may say that I spent the greater part of the time from June 23 to August 
1st last, at Sandusky, Toledo and about the islands, and found the wliole 
region unsurpassed in richness of material and in advantages for stud}-. 
The plant that I consider necessary for success in this undertaking may 
be briefly outlined as follow-s : i. The main thing is a building that shall 
give shelter and security to the investigators and their outfit. This could be 
constructed in the simplest manner ; the size should be sufficient to accom- 
modate six to ten men, sav 24x30 feet, and with two floors; the lower 
for the storage of boats and apparatus, and for the coarser operations of 
“preparing”; the upper for tables and aquaria. 2, The necessar}' furniture 
for convenience in work (apparatus, books, etc., could be moved up from 
the university and returned annually); 3, boats, nets and aquaria. 
Note : Michigan has such a station supported by the Fish Commission, 
the university furnishing the investigators and the apparatus. The station 
is movable. It is this year as last at Charlevoix, where a building has been 
rented for a term of years as I understand it. The president, at least, of 
the Fish and Game Commission of Ohio favors a similar arrangement, but 
has, at present, no funds. 
The State Hatchery at Sandusk}-, which Mr. Vincent kindly allowed me 
to use last summer, is well located, but it is not suitable for the work con- 
templated, as the main room is wholl}' occupied by hatching jars and 
apparatus. By making comparatively slight changes it would serve the 
purpose very' well. 
I was told b}- men interested that the United States Fish Commission 
want the hatchery for a railway shipping station to accommodate distribu- 
tion of fry from the United States Hatchery at Put-in-Bay. 
Note 2 : I cannot help but think it would be better, if expedient, for the 
university to own and control the matter \yithout reference to the Fish and 
Game Commission, except to co-operate with it in every wa}^ possible in 
securing knowledge of the habits of fishes, on which intelligent culture 
depends. It would then be a university affair and those in cliarge would 
have but one aim and one master. It would leave us independent to work 
in an}- line without criticism. 
THE COLLECTION. 
The second question may be more briefly stated. A complete collection 
of the fishes of the State does not exist. It is much needed : i. Students 
of fishes often want an authentic collection for comparison and identification. 
2, Questions in law often arise that cannot be truthfully settled without such 
specimens. 3, Such a collection must awaken interest in the subject ; and 
4, it would surely prove of much immediate usefulness in the Department of 
Zoology. 
The amount needed to enable a vigorous prosecution of the work during 
the coming summer, I estimate as follows : i, A barrel of alcohol, ; 2, 
five pounds of formaline (a new preservative), >6 ; 3, bottles and anatomical 
jars, $so (for one year’s work); 4, nets, etc., S15 ; 5, for buying desired spe- 
cies of fisliernien and in the market some student help in dredging and for 
transportation, $50. Total, $150 
The last fish cannot be .secured the first or second year, but all the food 
fishes and many others may be had at once ; these will include nearly all the 
larger species, so the co.st hereafter will be slight annually and no special 
appropriations will be necessary. 
I would like to begin preparation at once and to be able to secure during 
the winter such species as come to the Columbus market iu good condition. 
Mr. Vincent has agreed to aid in every way possible in this matter. 
Respectfully, D. S. Kellicott. 
