The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-12-27
OCEAhOGbAPHY
INSTITUTION
Continued from Page one.)

/ museums, exhaustive collections mus
be made, both in the field and by pur
chase which will illustrate their cul
| ture before it is too late to secure
them Tor the purposes of comparison
and study.
Next IN Importance is the subject
of land biology. The limited size OF
| the majority of the islands makes the
| determination of existing peculiar
forms a matter speedily accomplished
by the introduction of foreign plants
! and animals, or unusual conditions, Sc
| speedily lnueed, that among the birds
| on the island of Oahu, the number OF
| forms known to science which have
| been exterminated since their descrip
ton, exceeds those now existing on the
| island In Polynesia there yet remain
| many islands unexplored by scientists
and thousands of forms of birds, rep
tiles and invertebrates that are unde-
scrlped.
In the plant world similar condi-
tions exist, there being hundreds of
species which are unknown; while the
geographical extent, abundance, native
names and economic uses of all the
plants of the region should be in
vestigated and recorded Such a sur
vey would aid in the development and
utilization of the resources of the
tropical islands of the world.
The value of a study of the shore
fauna can not be exaggerated. A YES
sci equipped as is here proposed would
be able to accomplish wonders in this
direction while Investigations were be-
ing prosecuted on shore. Those who
have perused the results, as far as
published, of the expedition of the
U. S. Fish Commission ship Albatross
in these Hawaiian waters can form an
idea of the possibilities of a careful
investigation of the coast faunas
down to the limit of the effect of light
on ocean forms. The value of a work
as Systematically conducted about the
various groups of islands in our region
can scarcely be estimated.
In order to study the life history
and economic Importance of both plants
and animals, living specimens should
be collected. AS rapidly as possible
station, aviary and botanical gardens
in Honolulu. These are made to take
a prominent part in the general scheme. j
The expedition would be useful in sup
plying them with fresh material while
tutY WOu1u COHStItuI0 TIC GcAIoIS 1Ol
the study of the materials collected. =
While geological and typographical
surveys would be made, they should be
so ordered as to furnish a basis on4
which the biological and ethnograph-
ical survey must rely for many Of 1ts
facts.
Exhaustive as such a survey must
be, it's operations should be directed
towards a definite object, and in con-
much that is desirable to do
will doubtless be left undone. But it
is believed that it would not be wise
to attempt to investigate matters of
local Importance, or such conditions
as are not liable to immediate change.
Such subjects as coast and geodet1c
exhaustive geological investi-
cations, etc, can await the action of
without material d1Sad-,
vantage, but the demands for ethno-
graphical and biological surveys can
not longer be neglected
So much concerning the field explor-
alton, it's relative Importance and the
scope of it's operations. The question
which naturally follows is. What shall
be done with the material and data col !
lected? We therefore come to the con-
sideration of the second and. locally, /
the most interesting part Of the plan
THE PROPOSED PACIFIC sCIEN- |
TIFIC INSTITUTION.
hospital, or even a museum was to be I
it was permissible to be
guided solely by the existing necessity. |
It was not the rule to think such things
,ut far ahead. In some cases it would
almost seem to have been regarded |
IS interfering with the ways of Provi-
1ence, to plan. Happily, that time has
passed. There are no new UNIVERSE
lies being built on the Anticipated hap
hazard lack of plan exemplified in the
Did University of California. In lieu
# taking no heed for the future in such
matters, men now, cognizant of the
avs of evolution and growth, make
plans accordingly. Extensive enter
orises. especially great philanthropfc
are delineated with a view
o their ultimate, rather than their
immediate fulflment. The plan is
boldly drawn as complete as may be
Ind the beginning made in small way
when necessary, but every subsequent
step is taken looking towards it's COM
)letion.
In such plans everything is reduced
% units. The most important things
Are done first. A museum planned to
cover fourteen acres has the
,ne wing up and in use. A university
ike Chicago or Stanford does not put
Up d building or lay a cement walk
without reference to the original plan.
What saving of time, money and
energy if California University and
and Yale could have been so
ordered,
With this thought in mind to en-
courage us in considering an undertake
ng which involves so much, let us re,
urn to the second part of this plan.
In order to carry on in comprehen-
i've way the administrative and resi-
lent research work of such an exp1ora-
ion as has just been sketched, and at
he same time provide adequately for
he inevitable lateral expansion of such
IN undertaking, it is proposed to form
n Honolulu a Pacific Scientific Insti-
J1tiOn This yvOIJid he oornnro ffo,,