58 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, January, 1947 
cifk will be brought about by personal con¬ 
tacts. 
Be it resolved that botanical missions be sent 
to Japan, China (especially Formosa), and 
Korea (1) to obtain specimens, photographs 
of type and other important specimens, pub¬ 
lications, translations of publications, and 
manuscripts, (2) to ascertain the needs of 
Pacific and Oriental botanists for correspond¬ 
ing scientific materials from America, and 
(3) to arrange for co-operation among the 
scientists of the participating countries. 
B. Whereas ethnobotanical investigations are 
frequently neglected by both botanists and 
anthropologists, and 
Whereas the field of ethnobotany is one in 
which much useful research may be done by 
workers in other fields. 
Be it resolved that the National Research 
Council recommend methods of securing 
comparable linguistic terminology on eco¬ 
nomic botany and primitive agriculture from 
the boundaries of India through Polynesia. 
C. Whereas the experiment station of the 
South Seas Bureau of the Japanese Govern¬ 
ment at Kolonia, Ponape, has a large collec¬ 
tion of economic plants, two large modern 
buildings, and many acres of tillable land, 
and 
Whereas both wet land and well-drained 
land have been under active cultivation, and 
the area is well suited for experiment sta¬ 
tion work, 
Be it resolved that agricultural experimenta¬ 
tion be continued at this station. 
D. Whereas the food production capacity of 
many Pacific Islands might.be increased by 
judicious enrichment of the flora through 
plant introduction, and 
Whereas many other products of utility 
might be made available to isolated peoples. 
Be it resolved that measures be taken to 
introduce widely throughout the Pacific new, 
useful, disease-free plants (including forest 
trees), favoring those that may have two or 
more utilities, such as use for lumber, for 
food, for fiber, for tannin. 
E. Whereas modern modes of transportation 
and increased contacts of the island groups 
of the Pacific with each other and with the 
continents are greatly increasing the danger 
of spread of plant diseases. 
Be it resolved that, whenever possible, a sur¬ 
vey of parasitic fungi and other disease-pro¬ 
ducing organisms be made a part of plant 
science projects sponsored in the Pacific area, 
and 
Be it further resolved that every precaution 
be observed to prevent the spread of dis¬ 
eases and pests (including weeds). Increased 
attention should be given to quarantine reg¬ 
ulations and renewed studies should be 
made of the efficacy of quarantine measures. 
F. Whereas certain problems of marine biology 
are of practical significance in the operation 
of ships, 
Be it resolved that the following studies be 
undertaken: 
1. Biological study of the distribution and 
habits of marine fouling organisms. 
2. Investigation of the distribution and 
causes of phosphorescent waters. 
3. Survey of fouling in certain areas of im¬ 
portance to shipping in order'to deter¬ 
mine maximum depth of significant ma¬ 
rine growth. 
4. Survey in representative areas of the 
main marine growth forms, their seasons 
of attachment and rates of growth. 
5. Distribution of kelp and other large 
algae. 
V. DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND 
MEDICINE. 
The Division recommends: That co-operative 
studies be conducted by qualified workers in the 
field of medicine, together with workers in the 
allied sciences, as follows: 
1. Problems of the Pacific that have been 
demonstrated to be of particular impor¬ 
tance to "non-immune whites.” 
a. Diseases particularly prevalent in the 
Pacific and of major importance: 
dysenteries, malaria, hepatitis, dengue 
complex, and tropical dermatitis; also 
diseases of lesser but peculiar impor¬ 
tance: scrub typhus, schistosomiasis, 
filariasis, and Japanese B encephalitis. 
h. Dissemination and implantation of 
disease, with particular reference to 
quarantine procedures. 
c. Possible deleterious effects of the 
widespread use of DDT. 
d. Utilization of special opportunities 
that may arise in the study of respira¬ 
tory diseases. 
e. Determination of factors that have 
led to the absence of arteriosclerosis 
and hypertension, which are pre¬ 
sumed to be largely or entirely absent 
in certain native population groups of 
the Pacific. 
/. Nutritional problems that arise from 
residence in the tropics. 
