The San Francisco call., 1905-05-02
SEARCH THE DEPTHS OF
OLD OCEAN.
PROF. RITTER ISSUES BULLETIN
Waters Off South
Coast Prove a
Good Field

BERKELEY May 1.-The work of
the marine biological laboratory at
San Diego. under the auspices of the
University OF California. is the sub
ject Of bulletin written by Professor
W. E Hitter and issued by the Uni
yersity to-day. The past work Of the
laboratory. its aims and needs, con-
stitute the subjects treated at most
length
Professor Ritter declares that par
ucular advantages to investigators OF
waters OF Southern California He
says OF this phase of his subject:
The funds available being small an i'm
pcrtant ard ever-present practical question Is
That Of fixing limits One Of the first of<these
Was that Of limiting the territory 10 be sur
ing from Point Conception, latitude "a degrees
"a minutes at the north TO base line ex-
Of the United States. latitude 20 degrees rs
minutes bounded en- the east By the coast
Ppt HS ss g,gs the 1eo srsresa 81
minutes. was selected. The shore line OF this
area exclusive Of the islands. is about 2s0
miles The length Of the western side is
about 120 miles. and that Of its southern side
about 1874 miles The area contains. there
fore. over II, 600 square miles
The qualifications Of the region are A
position well TO the south: a considers bic
extent OF continental shelf. presenting large
diversity OF bottom. with numerous ISLANDS and
shoals: proximity TO oceanic depths and other
truly oceanic conditions; a favorable climate:
a large variety OF shore line. and accessibility
through sea ports and railroads Two OF these
advantages. that Of climate and proximity 70
oceanic conditions are held 10 be or very
great importance fundamental element in
Investigations Of the sort contemplated is con-
tinuous11ess of the field work. Data gathering
must go on throughout the year at frequent
stsels 10 tb,n % HeaVy storms % are rare and
these are practically limited TO three or fouI
months-January February March and April.
Former investigation has served to prove
the great richness in marine life. the ad-
Vantageousness a collecting place. or the
San Pedro district. When, consequently. 1t
was resolved in 1901, to make an effort on
the basis OF ideas that had been taking SHAPE
for several years-those. in word which now
animate the undertaking Pedro was be-
lieved TO be the most favorable locus for
whatever might be done For this summer
IL was resolved 10 aim particularly at credg-
ing operations in the shallow waters. mace
as thorough the time and equipment would
permit with a reconnaissance 20 San Diego
81 possible The university being unable TO
supply the money for this successful appeal
was made 20 friends Of the university and OF
science In Los Angeles and elsewhere. Funds
to the amount OF about $500 were secured.
with which large though open gasoline
launch was hired and fitted for the work.
She kept going almost constantly from
May 20 to August g. While the dredging and
ira wing were the chief occupation other lines
of work were not wholly neglected. particu-
larry plankton collecting and temperature
taking The proposed run to San Diego was
made and from the days devoted to the work
there good impression Of the biological con-
dftcns of that region was obtained
For the work .on shore on old bath house
was rented and converted into simple labora-
tory The summer Of 1902 was likewise spent
al San Pedro, but this year nothing was done
at sea- attention being restricted TO the ittoral
fauna
puring both these seasons formal courses of
instruction in zoology were given as part Of
the regular university summer session.
Before the next summer tne iapora,9Iy puila-
ing ana best collecting grounds within the
small inner harbor at San Pedro had been
destroyed by the harbor improvements being
prosecuted there by the United States Cow
eminent Owing TO this and TO encouraging
proposals for financial aid from San Diego,
led by DR.. Fred Baker. and to the good i'm
il resolved. in the early spring of 1903,
TO move the base of operations TO San Diego.
During the years 1908 and 1904 the boat house
up by the Coronado Beach Company served as
a laboratory building.
Professor Ritter describes the nec-
essity of salaried staff to carry on
the work of the laboratory, The i'm
portarce. of the work is. referred TO In
the following paragraphs:
| when. viewing this whole field Of knrwl-
edge. and the means and methods OF investi-
CATION. one must be struck by the presailins
uniformity and inadeo1aey.: of the existing
marine stations. for coping with the situa tion.
This inadeduacy: is most manifest In two pa =
ticutaFss hrst,- in the we'll nigh complete alb
seree Of er1iownient which lis essential for the
assurance pf that certainty and regularity Of
ifaene by which alnne. cpntinuouss and long
Continued. defnitely MANNED Investigations
j Fundamental Idea on which nearly ali these
/ Institutions are based They have been. and
are. With. few exceptions, primarily resorts
cal problerns, and nor for eystelnatlcally at
tacking the prubleins of marine biology proper.