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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
mation concerning their geographical range, breeding places and habits, migrations 
and laws governing the same, is very meager and indefinite. On the other hand, 
there are thousands of other animals upon which these are more or less dependent, 
concerning the life histories of which we know nothing. 
The work done in our present marine biological stations is worthy of high com- 
mendation, and any effort to establish other stations should be encouraged. As I 
have remarked, these stations are established only to afford students an opportunity 
to study fresh marine forms and to promote and facilitate research purely scientific. 
It seems to me that the time is now ripe to establish on our coast Government 
biological stations, whose objects should be not only to encourage, aid, and promote 
scientific research, but also to devise means to turn into practical use, as far as 
possible, all of our knowledge of marine life. These stations should give especial 
attention to the study of the geographical distribution of all animals, their migrations, 
and laws governing the same — in fact, everything which bears on their life-histories 
and their interrelations. 
These stations should maintain each a dozen or more tables for the use of inves- 
tigators from time to time from our various educational institutions. These tables 
should be used only by men who had already demonstrated then- ability to do research 
work of a high character, and whose purposes at the station were clearly defined. In 
this respect I would suggest that the policy of the zoological station at Naples be 
largely followed. This station is the most perfect, and from a scientific standpoint 
the most useful, of any in the world. It has been in existence a little more than 
twenty-five years, and its privileges have been used by many investigators from all 
civilized countries. It is in possession of more information concerning the life of the 
Bay of Naples than is possessed of a like extent of sea by any other institution. It 
is strictly a scientific institution, and in this respect has been eminently successful. 
Its success is largely due to the facts that it is open during the entire year and that 
its privileges are used only by a high grade of scientific men. A station of like 
nature established somewhere on the Florida coast, and which would combine the 
additional feature of the solving of biological problems which have a direct bearing 
on the commercial products of the sea, is a greatly needed institution, and should, I 
believe, be largely maintained by our Government and controlled by our United 
States Fish Commission. 
The fishery interests of Florida coasts alone are steadily becoming of immense 
importance. Her fishes, oysters, turtles, sponges, etc., are found in the markets of 
our great inland cities. Concerning the growth of these products we know too little. 
Concerning the plants and animals upon which they are dependent for food we know 
far less, and our knowledge of the enemies they encounter while in the sea is very 
deficient. Our information along these lines can best be increased through the agency 
of one or more biological stations, as I have mentioned. I have remarked that these 
stations should be controlled by the Fish Commission. The work for them to do lies 
strictly within its province. It is partially equipped, both as to men and apparatus, 
for the work. 
The fact that this Congress is attended by representatives of many scientific insti- 
tutions is a sufficient guaranty of their appreciation of the work of the Commission and 
their interest in the problems connected with the fishery industries. The solution of 
these problems must fall to the labors of our trained scientific men, and in the establish- 
ment of a Government marine biological station efforts should be made to invite to it 
