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

connected with the supply of food fishes.
In the winter the students are mostly
gone, but the commission Is not idle. Its
energies are now turned to the Matching
of cod and Holsters and other food fishes.
The eggs are obtained by millions, and are
placed in ingenIously arranged Matching
jars 80 that they are under the most
favorable conditions. Then, when the
young are able to shift for themselves,
they are turned loose in the sea to grow
and fatten and perchance to be caught for
food.
The fish commission is a government
institution and to study there one must
have an invitation from the commissioner;
the other Woods Hon station, the Marine
Biological Laboratory, is open to all upon
payment of the proper fees. The fish COM
mission is chiefly for the solution of eco
nomic questions connected with food
fishes; the Marine Biological Laboratory
is devoted to pure science.
The building of the Marine Biological
Laboratory is simple and without any
architectural pretentions. Il rectangular
two story building about 80 by 60 feet with
an l. 20 by 10 can be made severely plain,
and yet this shingled structure in one way
exhibits true architectural merit, in that
it is well adapted for its purposes. AT
the first sight one is struck by
the size and number Of the win
dows; and considering the nature
of the work done, there is none too much
light. The main entrance leads directly
into the lower laboratory which occupies
nearly the whole of the ground floor.
Along either side of this large room are
arranged large laboratory tables, each ac-
commodating four students, while in the
center of the room is another table with
the aquaria, always an object of interest to
the visitors.
The animals in these aQuaria are changed
almost daily. This change is not inten-
tional, but follows from the nature OF the
work done. These tanks serve as reser-
voifs for the animals studied, and as the
students are working now OH HOLSTERS, now
at star-iishes. and again upon CLAIMS, tho
stock on hand must vary. Then, again,
any strange or unusual form taken is
placed here on exhibition; so that one day
may be seen here sticks covered with goose
barnacles, each one, As Huxley expresses
il, kicking its food into its mouth with its
feet another day there are numerous scuid
with their constantly changing hues DART
ing hither ana thither by their peculiar
contained almost constantly one or more
of the beautiful Portuguese men-ot-war,
the tloat colored red and blue, while below
the green lentacles are in constant motion.
But beware of these beautiful streamers,
for where they touch the skin they raise
bright red ridge, which smar;s us if
burned.
The students in this lower laboratory
are elementary workers. Some are college
students, doing extra work IN vacation
time. some are teachers in high schools.
while not intrequentiy digniued college
professors have been glad TO come here
and obtain the instruction which they
should have had before they took the pro-
ieSsorial chair or settee. FOR too often pro-
iessorS are appointed on other grounds
than those OF attainmentS. The nom
scientific reader may I've interested IL the
way IN which they study.
Zach morning there is Il lecture IN the
ADJACENT lecture room by some one OF the
teaching i0tce. This may be either
what detailed account Of the structure
OF some animal or plant, 10 he studied
later oy each student IN the laboratory, or
Ii may oe an account OF the relatives and
relationship Of some form already
STUDIED. tor knowledge gained here is TO
be valued accordingly Us It IS compare
tive.
After the lecture, which is usually about
an hour long, tile students return to the
laboratory and begin tie lays work. sap
pose 1t oe some large animal like q lobster
which 5 70 he studied. Ii is first ex-
amined from every side Its legs are
pulled oil and STUDIED, taen the jaws are
compared with the legs. and then the
feeders with both legs and jaws; anu from
these the instructors strive 10 lead the
students 10 work out for themselves the
laws Of structure upon which lobster is
formed
When the outside has been mastered. the
lnieEnal organs are studied The Nay the