, 1892-01-23
A MARINE LABORAT DRY
FOR JAMAICA.
{ From the Jamaica GIeaner.)

AT a recent meeting of the members of tie
Jamaica Institute reported at lengthat the time
in the Gleaner-an eGtempore address was de-
livered by Mr.. John Stuart, NJ. A. upon the
subject of the Marine Laboratory at Port Hen
derson, established last summer under the
auspices Of the John Hopkins University of
Baltimore and where Professor Brooks had
kindly granted him permission to share in the
work going on, a permission of which he avail
ed himself for three weeks during the months
of July and August last In the course Of the
discussion which followed, the Rev. VIM.
Gillies asked Nh. Stuart if he knew what i'm
preston was left on the mind Of Professor
Brooks as regards the suitability, etc. Of ia
maica for a Tropical Station, eliciting the re-
ply that the Professor was thoroughly salts
fed with the results achieved,
We now learn that the project of'establsh-
ing a Marine Laboratory in Jamaica suggested
itself, shortly before leaving for England, to
Lady Blake, with the hearty support and ap-
prevail Of His Fxeellency the Governor, both
being Of opinion that the establishment OF
such an Institution here could not be attended
with other than beneficial results not only to
the cause of science but in the promotion OF the
welfare Of the Island. Ii all goes we'll the
spot selected will be Port Henderson, which
DIdCG i 1OlCcsQi oIODhG 0tN0 ~ w ~ NNSI EI
of making Investigations, on the occasion Of
his recent visit 60 Jamaica, Lady Blake thcre-
upon wrote to HIN enquiring whether he con
sidered Port Henderson would be suitable for
the purpose, and what steps could be taken III
the matter. Inreply DR.. Brooks addressed a
long letter to Lady Blake in which he
assured Her Ladyship how very suitable
that place was for a Tropical LaLora-
tory.
As q result Of this correspondence, It y now
ascertainod, after thoroughly investigating the
subject, that the prime cost Of the establish
ment Of such a Laboratory would be about
600 600. For this amount the institution
could be fully and properly equipped with
tho necessary apparatus &c. and would pro
vide for the cost of placing a qualified 0uperln-
tondentin charge. Briefly speaking, the pro
posed Institution will be established upon the
lines Of the Marine Laboratory at Naples,
a description Of which will be found else
where.
When Lady Blake recently visited England
she lost no time IN setting to work to further
the object in view, and after considerable
CORES pondence Her Lady ship has IN her pc
session letters upon the subject from amongst
others, Professor Huxley, Sir Lyon Playfalr,
Professor Guntcr, Of the British Museum, ffo-
fessor Moore, the Head Of the Dublin Museum,
DR.. Ball. Professor Flower, also Of the British
Museum. Mr.. Slater, the Secretary OF the Lon
don geological Society, Mr.. Scott OF the Me-
teorological Department, Mr.. Curly ana
many others we'll known III scientific circles
All these gentlemen with whom Lady Blake
has communicated have expressed the warmest
approval Of the project. Further than this the
well known Finn Of Coutts Il o, have consent
ed to be the bankers, and Lady Blake has
also written to the prominent gentleman IN
London who takes a deep interest III such
work and who Will, there is no doubt, consent
to act as Secretary.
The next step in the matter will be Ion ady
Blake to bring the subject prominently before
the British public, probably BY a letter IN the
leading journal, and this may be followed BY
an appeal for subscriptions towards the cost Of
the Laboratory. Meanwhile P%Ioiessor Brooks
holds out hopes that the Scientific Societies IN
America, as we'll as the people Of that country
will subscribe literally to the object. ltwould
also be a good idea-and the suggestion is that
of Lady Blake-to arrange for the Inauguration
of the Laboratory ON the anniversary of the DIS
covery ofthe Island by Christopher Columbus
indeed the institution might be appropriately
named after the Great Voyager. Thus far,
Lady Blake has worked outside of Jamaica on
ly, but no doubt an appeal will be made to the
public here for their active support of, the un-
dertaking.
The principle is simple enough. 1t is in the