The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-21

but little under the microscopes but the
naturalist has found out that thu different
portions of every animal and eSery plant
differ considerably in their chersical con-
stitution, so that if placed u certain
staining fluids one part will ba colored.
while another will not. Thus solutions
of carmine and Iogwood will reader visi-
BILE in each of the little balls os cells OF
the egg described above q past which
stains more deeply than the restc=
This is called the nucleus, and cthe more
1t Is studied the more importaFt does 1t
OF all hereditary tendencies. Again, solu-
tions OF gold properly used sta5n nerves
bright purple, so that the stuGents can
trace their finest terminationx; oZonic
acid blackens fat, and Bleu de lyon REM
ders the most minute bit of bCay tissue
bright blue. So, naturally. this. staining
plays most important part in savestiga-
ton.
For much of the material used the stu
dents do their own collecting. This gives
them an outing, and also serves to teach
them something OF the habits 81 marine
animals. The laboratory has eowbOats,
sailboats and fine steam lauisch. The
to Maushon and the other islanas of the
Elizabeth group, dredging in Vineyard
sound or visiting the fish ponds scattered
along Buzzard's bay.
Dredging is an interesting opers tion, for
1T always is more or less of a lottsry. The
launch steams out into the soursd until it
reaches some point which seems favorable.
and then the dredge is put down3- This is
rectangular iron frame with sh%rp edges
to scrape the bottom and q bag kehind to
catch everything that is. scr.ped up.
When the dredge is down thI launch
ateams along slowly, and aftef short
time it is drawn to the surface and the
off, o hoo ina
after WISHING away the mud, ets, the re-
nainder is carefully picked oser and
the treasures either Immediately preserved
or taken back to the aquaria in tie labora-
tory. Usually the dredge will contain a
considerable variety of forms, Tut occa-
sionally haul will be made in wsich only
one or two species will be found.
The daily life of the student is easily de-
scribed. They find rooms withzhe vari-
Gus families in the village, while tIle labor
atory runs mess hall, where al obtain
their meals. The laboratory is osen daily
from or 8 in the morning unaI 10 or
later at night.
The general outline of the works,as been
given, and there are but few things to in.
terrupt it. Among these is the ;saily SER
vice by most of the students, and. besides
there are given once or twice > week a
course of evening lectures by the Coaching
force of the laboratory, or by SONG visiting
naturalist who chances to be present
These lectures are highly regaraed, and
rightly SO, for nowhere else in America
has ever been given a course of scIentifc
lectures by such masters as here.
The statistics of the laboratory are here
summed together. 1t is a national rather
than local institution, as is seeSl by the
distribution of Its students. Inahe four
years that the laboratory has beSn open
135 workers have been present.. coming
from twenty-three states, from Canada
and Japan. The laboratory isSrapidly
growing. The first year it accoms1odated
seventeen: last year, seventy-One sorkers.
been made as large as the original
structure. 1t depends for its support
upon the fees of the students uSon the
interest of very small endowment, and
upon the subscription of friends Interested
in science. The fees are, for the clement
airy department, $50; for the investigation
department, $50 for the season. TIE teach
ing force do their work largely as labor
of love. They are mostly professors and
teachers in colleges and universities, who.
while their colleges are enjoying. q vaca-
ton, are continuing here the same Snstruc-
ton that they have been engaged in the
whole year.
Such is the Marine Biological 1.abora-
tory today. The laboratory of the future,
so its friends think, will be well endowed
station for research, which will:oe open
winter and summer with its regrl,sr corps
OF investigators, with every facilitS for in
vestigation and publication, in .hort, a
station second to none in the worTi. For
such the beginning Has already bee.a made
Land is already bought for the staG:on and
the foundation of the endowment laid.
The realization may come soon OF it may
be delayed, but it is sure to come.