SOME EUROPEAN BIOLOGICAL STATIONS. 
CHANCEY JUDAY. 
The first European biological stations, such as we know to¬ 
day, were founded some forty odd years ago. Previous to this 
time individual investigators visited the seashore, some lake, or 
river to carry on their researches on aquatic organisms, but in 
such cases it was necessary for them to improvise their own 
laboratories and to provide their own laboratory and collecting 
equipments. Under such conditions, of course, but few biolo¬ 
gists could enjoy these opportunities and it is little wonder that 
the first permanent stations were heartily welcomed by the 
biologists of that time. These first laboratories were poorly 
equipped in comparison with the more modern stations, but they 
at least furnished a working place and some of the most neces* 
sary equipment. This made it possible for many more investi¬ 
gators to pursue researches at places where material was abun¬ 
dant and where work could be carried on under the most favor¬ 
able conditions. It is not surprising, then, that these early sta¬ 
tions enjoyed great popularity and rapidly increased in import¬ 
ance. 
This growth in popularity and importance resulted not only 
in increased facilities at the earlier stations, but led to the 
establishment of others and the number is still gradually grow¬ 
ing in spite of the fact that almost every European nation now 
has a liberal quota of such laboratories. The coast line has be¬ 
come dotted with marine stations and many fresh-water ones 
have been established on lakes and rivers. The constant in¬ 
crease in the number of both kinds furnishes ample testimony 
of the continued interest in such institutions. The modem sta- 
