Feb., 1906.] 
A State Natural History Survey. 
471 
A STATE NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY. 
At the Cincinnati meeting of the State Academy of Science 
the President in his annual address urged the effort to secure 
state support for a natural history survey. The Academy 
adopted a resolution endorsing the project and providing for a 
committee of three, to consist of the retiring President, the 
incoming President and the Secretary, to draft a bill and 
endeavor to secure its passage during the coming session of the 
General Assembly. 
As a result of the efforts of this Committee a bill has been 
introduced by Hon. C. V. Trott of Mt. Vernon. This bill, after 
providing in the first Section for the establishment of the Survey, 
appointment of the Director by the Governor and authority to 
appoint necessary specialists and assistants, states in Sections 2 
to 4 the objects of the survey as follows: 
“ Section 2. The Survey shall have for its objects: (1) An 
examination of the animal and plant life of the state with special 
reference to its distribution, abundance, increase or decrease, 
and facts of practical or scientific importance as a foundation for 
accurate instruction in the schools of the state. In particular 
shall facts relating to the organic purity of water supplies, the 
food supply of fishes, the game birds and animals, and forms 
affecting public health be considered. (2) The identification of 
birds, fishes, and other animals or plants sent in for the purpose 
by officers of the Fish and Game Commission, State Board of 
Health, City Boards of Health, or other State, County or munic- 
ipal bodies calling for such information, or by the general public 
so far as they may be of public interest or value, and as the time 
of the officers may permit. Such investigations as may be 
especially desired by the State Board of Health in connection 
with the water supplies or the disease-producing or transmitting 
forms of life, or the Fish and Game Commission or other State 
Bureaus for the purpose of their work shall be given preference 
and pushed with all possible speed consistent with careful work. 
(3) The preparation of special reports with necessary illustra- 
tions and maps which shall embody both a general and a detailed 
description of the work of the survey. 
Sec. 3. The collections made in pursuance of this act shall 
be deposited at the Ohio State University and shall be available 
for study by any person properly qualified, under such regu- 
lations made by officers of the Survey, as may be necessary 
for the permanent preservation and use of the collections. 
Sec. 4. The Survey may from any duplicate material in its 
collections furnish sets to such colleges, museums, high schools, 
or township schools of the state as may be willing to pay the cost 
