THE SCRIPPS INSTITUTION FOR BIOLOGICAL

RESEARCH

LOCAL BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION

BENJ. IDE WHEELER, Ph.D., LL.D., Litt.D., L.H.D., President of the University, Berkeley.

Wм. E. Ritter, Ph.D., Scientific Director, La Jolla.

W. C. CRANDALL, A.B., Business Agent and Secretary of the Local Board. ELLEN B. SCRIPPS, Litt.D., La Jolla.

E. W. SCRIPPS, Miramar.

FRED BAKER, M.D., San Diego.

E. L. MICHAEL, M.S., La Jolla.

GEORGE F. MCEWEN, Ph.D., La Jolla.

F. B. SUMNER, Ph.D., La Jolla.

RESIDENT RESEARCH STAFF

WM. E. RITTER, Ph.D., Zoologist and Professor of Zoology in the University. F. B. SUMNER, Ph.D., Biologist.

E. L. MICHAEL, M.S., Zoologist and Administrative Assistant.

GEORGE F. MCEWEN, Ph.D., Hydrographer and Curator of the Oceanographic Museum.

W. C. CRANDALL, A.B., Master of the Alexander Agassiz.

NON-RESIDENT RESEARCH STAFF

C. A. KOFOID, Ph.D., Sc.D., Zoologist and Professor of Zoology in the University.

C. O. ESTERLY, Ph.D., Zoologist, Professor of Zoology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California.

MYRTLE E. JOHNSON, Ph.D., Zoologist, Teacher of Biology, Pasadena High School, Pasadena, California.

J. FRANK DANIEL, Ph.D., Special Investigator on Elasmobranch Fishes, Assistant Professor of Zoology, University of California.

S. S. BERRY, Ph.D., Zoologist.

OLIVE SWEZY, Ph.D., Research Assistant.

OTHER OFFICERS

S. S. BERRY, Ph.D., Librarian.

P. S. BARNHART, A.B., Curator of the Aquarium and Zoological Museum. H. O. FALK, Secretary to the Director, and Assistant Librarian.

F. P. CLOUGH, Computer.

STUART S. TABER, Artist and Helper.

JAMES ROSS, Engineer.

HISTORY, SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT

The Institution grew out of the simple but calculated efforts in the department of zoology at the University to promote researches on the animal life of the Pacific Ocean. Since 1901 these efforts have been continuous, more or less definitely organized, and specifically supported financially. During the first years, the financial support came in small sums from numerous persons interested in the work, alumni of the University, and to a slight extent, the University itself. The interest of Miss E. B. Scripps and Mr. E. W. Scripps in the undertaking began in 1903 when the itinerant equipment was moved from San Pedro to San Diego. Since that time their financial support and managerial ability have been coextensive with the developments that have taken place. At present all the funds for physical up-building, and a large portion of those for maintenance come from this source, though since 1912 the State of California has contributed liberally to the support of the scientific work.

For several years the enterprise was carried on as the Marine Biological Station of San Diego, a corporation which had no official connec tion with the University of California, though such a relation was looked forward to and provided for in the articles of incorporation. In accordance with this provision, the property and management were transferred to the Regents of the University in 1912, the name of the foundation being then changed to that by which it is now known. The Institution is, consequently, an integral part of the University, having the same organizational rank as the other basal departments of the State's institution of highest learning.

But while, as a necessary consequence of its being an organic part of the University, the Institution is entirely subject to the authority of the Regents of the University, the latter have entrusted the Institution's affairs to a local board of control, and this delegation of management is as complete as it can be under the law and in keeping with the general policy and best interests of the University as a whole.

That the Local Board may be in the largest measure possible determinative and representative of the policies of the Institution, all permanent resident members of the research staff are made eligible to membership in the Board.

LOCATION

The Institution occupies a 177-acre "pueblo lot" situated on the ocean front about sixteen miles north of the center of San Diego City, and two miles north of the suburb of La Jolla. Both suburb and Institution are within the corporate limits of the city.

Although this site on the open ocean, considerably isolated from human habitation and transportation facilities, has introduced rather difficult and expensive elements into the problems of development, the great and unique advantages of the location for researches on the life of the open sea and on the sea itself, which researches have a central place in the Institution's scientific programme, and the further advantages of ample grounds on which to build, are fully justifying and it is confidently believed, will continue to justify the hazards that have been taken.

HOUSING AND EQUIPMENT

At this moment the chief buildings are:

A fire proof research laboratory capable of accommodating about twenty-five investigators, when devoted entirely, as it soon will be, to its proper use. All the laboratory rooms, seven in number, on the first floor are provided with salt water aquaria, thus furnishing large facilities for indoor experimentation on marine organisms. The circulatory system is of lead and hard rubber, so that nothing corrodable is in contact with the sea-water. The aquaria are of concrete and plate-glass.

A reinforced concrete 20,000 gallon salt water tank with tank house.

A Mouse House or "Murarium" of wood, but entirely isolated and carefully built with living quarters for about 1,000 mice. This building accommodates the animals on which Dr. Sumner's extensive experiments in heredity and environmental influence are being prosecuted.

A public aquarium building of wood, containing nineteen concrete tanks with plate-glass fronts.

Thirteen residences for the officers and employees of the Institution. Garages, service houses, etc.-At present there are under construction: A Wharf; 1000 feet long and nearly 20 ft. wide, the piles and beams of reinforced concrete.

A storage tank, capacity 40,000 gallons, of reinforced concrete at the base of the sea cliff under the wharf.

A retaining wall for the sea cliff, beginning at the wall built two years ago, and extending northward 470 feet along the cliff.

An electric motor pumping system for salt water, the pump to be located at the outer end of the wharf in order that the purest, most normal ocean water possible may be brought into the aquaria.

Two new cottages for members of the colony.

A two-story fire-proof library building is provided for and will be erected during the present year. For several years to come this will house both the library and the zoological and oceanographic museums, and the present location can thus be devoted exclusively to research.

THE LIBRARY

The library which is growing rapidly, contains approximately 4700 bound volumes and 7,500 pamphlets, well catalogued and shelved. More than 1000 volumes were added during the last year.

BOATS AND WORK AT SEA

The Alexander Agassiz, the Institution's main sea-going boat is altogether too large to handle on an unprotected shore like that upon which the Institution is situated. The completion of the wharf will remove several otherwise insuperable obstacles in the way of carrying out the plans for work at sea, and it is confidently expected that the considerable and expensive instrumental equipment for exploring the sea will be used much more in the future than it has been in the recent past.

VISITING INVESTIGATORS

The increased facilities, both for scientific work and for living, which the new developments are providing are making it possible for the Institution to hold out more encouragement to visiting naturalists than it has hitherto been in position to do. For certain types of biological problems, notably such as implicate what, for want of a more exact term may be called field studies, the natural conditions, equipment, and policies of the Institution, are exceptional. Every general zoologist knows something of the defectiveness of our knowledge of many, indeed most questions pertaining to the lives of the animals of the "high seas." Again, the Institution's entrance into the field of oceanography, though subordinate to its biological undertakings, is yet opening up most allur ing vistas of inquiry, some of which, particularly on the physical side of the science, may be pursued to excellent advantage at the Institution.

From the standpoint of the general progress of science in America, it seems highly desirable that the opportunities being here developed for researches in these backward departments of science, should be utilized by a larger number of investigators than it is possible for the Institution with its limited means to maintain on its paid staff.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

The policy so long maintained in a somewhat tentative way of accepting a few research students who are fitted to participate advantageously to both themselves and the Institution in investigations being carried on by members of the regular staff can now, because of the enlarged facilities of the Institution, be made more positive. Work on this basis is possible in several aspects of oceanography, the pelagic life of the sea, systematic zoology, growth in organisms, environmental influence and heredity, the technique of biological observation and thought and possibly laboratory experimentation on the behavior of pelagic animals. No fees are charged students working on this basis, the assumption being that the work done by the student will materially aid in carrying on the Institution's research programme.

Experience is proving that very profitable and pleasant arrangements of this sort can be entered into, but usually a less period than a year devoted to such study will hardly be profitable either to student or Institution.

Investigators and graduate students who contemplate work at the Institution should correspond with the Director before deciding to come to La Jolla. The desire and needs should be set forth quite fully. It is the wish of the management to have the facilities of the Institution used to the very best advantage; and undoubtedly this is possible only when due consideration is given to the question of how well the visitors' needs fall in with the natural conditions of the region and the general policies and equipment of the Institution.