The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-06
MECCA FOR BIOLOGISTS
Work of Illinois University's Float
=. ing Laboratory.
Only Fresh Water biological Station
In u. S.-Has Three Co-Laborcrs.

Scientific man are watching with interest
| the work Of the University OF Illinois biolog-
ical laboratory at Havana. II is the first un-
versity fresh water biolog ical station. with
adequate equipment to be established in the
United States, and Is further unique in that
| it has for its basis of work the system of life
| in river
Abroad there are several biological stations
for the study Of marine life Japan maintains
one. in connection with her imperial univsr-
sity, aud there are "a in Europe. but with the
exception of three in Europe located ON vari-
Gus lakes, all Of these have the life of animals
IN the ocean as their basis. Several attempts
have been made to establish fresh water sta
tions in the United States, but until the
University Of Illinois opened its station none
resulted in a permanent institution equipped
for instruction and investigation.
Valuable contributions TO biology have
been already made by the station. Species
new TO science have been discovered. and
others which were not supposed TO live ON this
continent have been found to exist in abun
dance in the turbid waters of the Illinois
River. One interesting case OF this kind was
the rediscovery in the river during the past
summer of an interesting rotifer known as
torchoshaera, which had previously been no.
ticed by bud one scientist, a aGerman professor.
who had observed il in the rice fields OF the
Philippine Islands.
The situation of the laboratory is peculiarly
fortunate. ..Havana Is one OF the leading fish
ing points on the Illinois River and the head.
quarters of the Illinois fish commission. Culver
Lake and the Illinois River are both very rich
in biological life. Water fowl abound while
nd ua aruhs oh IN,
The water itself is more rich in animal life
than any other water known in the world.
Measurements of the amount OF miscrocopic
life present in cubis meter Of its water show
that at certain times it is far in excess Of any
amount recorded for any other body of water
in the world that has been subjected to such
examination Besides the enormous quantity
of life present, the variety is as remark.
able. list OF the forms OF life
present in an average cubic milimeter
of the water shows n larger variety of organ
isms than in any other known body of water.
Two years ago the station opened. and until
last April the work was done in rented quar-
ters. Then the floating laboratory was
launched. II is Of wood, with a deck 20 by 60
feet, with a net of the finest silk. The living
forms are thus separated, and may be pre-
served, examined and identified. Collections
are made at regular intervals, and they are
preserved, while Investigations are made and
reports issued concerning them.
The work OF the laboratory has attracted
the attention Of scientists all over the world.
During the year il has been visisted by many
of the foremost biologists in the United
States, and graduates of other colleges attend
the summer experiments to add to their
knowledge of biology. Graduates or students
of Harvard, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, North
western, Lincoln, Drake, Wesleyan univer-
stiles, Knox, Drury and Eureka colleges have
been among those in attendance.
1t is thought that as the fame OF the stat ion
extends, Havana will become Mecca for bio
logists everywhere