The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-04
LIFE IN THE DEEP
New Building for Its Study
Near Beaufort.
The Davis House to Be Enlarged. Or. Riy.
embark Figures in a Rafting
Rabbit Hunt.
(Staff Correspondence

Beaufort, n. c., Jan. 3.-The new United
States Marine Biological Station build
| ing will be used for advanced scientific
study of all kinds of organic life as it is
! found in sea water, especially with
| view to discovering facts concerning the
| life and habits of the principal food fish,
which will enable fish culturistS to
| promote the increase of such fish by
artificial propagation, rearing, &c. The
| building now about half completed, con-
sists Of a two-story main building 42x70
| feet, and two wings, each 1882 feet
lAH around the house, except the
rear is an open veranda, and back of the
wings, a two-story covered piazza serv-
| ing as entrance way for the sleeping
rooms, six in number in each wing.
On the lower floor of the main building
is to be a large exhibition or aquaria
hall, 52x42 feet, and the office and store
rooms, while the whole second floor is
to be the laboratory proper, a work
room equipped with all kinds of tables,
shelves, tanks, jars, &C., necessary for
the work of the scientific Investigators,
who will gather here from our Universe
| ties during the summer months.
| the front side, will be square tower,
each supporting a tank to hold 10000
| gallons of water, forming the supply for
the various tanks and apparatus in the
| building, one to furnish fresh and the
! other salt water. This supply will be
| furnished by pumps and wells in the
rear of the building. Though not defin-
| itely decided, the building will probably
be lighted by electricity.
The laboratory faces due south and
occupies a commanding view right out to
| sea. 1t is situated on an island called
Piyers, on the Coast Survey charts, but
known to Beaufort citizens best as Still
Island, getting the latter name from the
: turpentine STILLS, of which no less
than three were in operation in the
| good old days" The island is about $50
yards long by 100 yards wide, and is only
separated from Beaufort by channel
a little over 100 yards acroSs-a landing
pier has been built to accommodate
large boats. When completed the build
ing will present striking appearance,
with it's pleasing design and commanding
site, and will be a landmark seen long
way outside the harbor. 1t is to be roof
! ed with slate, this has begun, painted
| light straw color trimmed with white,
and is to have olive green blinds. 1t is
/ hoped the biological students can oceue
! py their new home this summer, ai5
| though it is probable all the necessary
| fixtures and apparatus will not be in
| stalled by that time. Probably no place
! in the South could afford many adj
vantages in the way of accessibility,
proximity to the ocean, abundance of
marine life, and desirable seclusion as
this little island at Beaufort.
| Miss Sarah Davis house is to be inn
proved by the enlarging of the dining
room, adding several rooms over it, and
| two small sun parlors in front. 1t is
proposed that these improvements shall
be completed before the summer sea-
| son opens.
A day or two since party composed
Of DR.. B. F. Dixon, Rev. N NJ. Jurney,
| Chas. L. Alternately and your Uncle
Jefferson went out to Fort Macon for
a rabbit hunt. The two hours spent
around the old historic fort, wadng
waist deep in the sea weeds and grasses,
was an experience long to be remem-
bered. The first rabbit of the visit was
dropped by Mr.. Alternately. preceded by
! the explosion of two shells. This one
! rightly belonged to your Uncle Jeffer-
| SON." who first espied him, but just as
he would have banged away, DR.. Dixon
| yelled from out the grass in which he
! was almost hidden, Look out" and
| trigger pulling with me was a thing of
the past, for / was not out to slay the
State Auditor. The genial doctor up
braided me for not firing, saying, II
! meant don't let him get away
The next one gave up the ghost to the
demand Of DR.. Dixon's gun. The next
in obedience to your Uncle Jefferson"
and so on they keeled over to the chagrin
i of the beloved parson, who hunted hard
I and "blowed" loud in an honest effort
to stay one "old Molly Hare
Finally one cotton tall lay down as
he banged away and DR.. Dixon lifted up
his voice in 'Hurrahl Mats got one.
Down tumbled another and the gallant
doctor stopped short in his rambling
and sang out, boys, this is glorious.
1t beats making campaign speeches to
a listless crowd on a hot summer day
all hollow"
The sport kept up till thirteen good
| sized rabbits lay at our feet. The doc
| tor laid claim to having slain five, the
parSon said that at least that number
had dropped at his trigger pulling,
Alternately lowed he had claims on an
| equal number. and as for myself how
many We're left? And yet they all knew
l had done quite as we'll Just then DR.
Dixon, with such soberness of counte-
nance, said. bows, we've got just thir-
| teen and the sound is between US and
our lodging house" He was not a whit
| superstitious, but thirteen was not an
even number and so as we journeyed to
| the boat we sought one more. We found
him but he got away and we had no
more luck that day.
G.. J. RIVENBARK.
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