The biological stations of Europe / by Charles Atwood Kofoid.

  • Kofoid, Charles A. (Charles Atwood), 1865-1947.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The biological stations of Europe / by Charles Atwood Kofoid. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and are always manned by men of scientific training. The large work they are doing in restoring and improving the sanitary condi- tions and food resources of the streams and lakes of Europe is an abundant justification for their existence. There is a great field in our own country for the development of local stations with state and federal support directed toward the practical problems of the fish- eries. Obviousty such stations might well have the same relations to the scientific faculties of our state universities and to the central coordinating bureau at Washington that our agricultural experiment stations now bear. The great research stations of Europe are supported largely, and often almost exclusively (except in Great Britain), by state and local funds. This is made possible in European countries by the recognition on the part of the state of the relation of research to higher education in biological sciences and by the centralized forms of administration of educational policies and funds. At some time, possibly not far distant, it may be found advisable that our own Federal Government should assume through some central agency the adequate support of two great research stations, one on the Atlantic and one on the Pacific, as an integral part of our system of higher education. It is obvious that such stations should be free from the domination of economic interests, though it might be to the great advantage of both if the fisheries interests and the research stations should stand in an advisory and cooperative relation to one another. The functions of such great research stations are quite distinct from those of smaller, local fish-cultural experiment stations, which may well take over all formal instruction, as well as the investigation of local and especially of economic problems. The functions assumed by a biological station determine largely the character of the location best suited to its work. The factors to be considered in the location of a marine station are accessibility, nearness to sea, abundance and variety of local fauna and flora, ease of access to varied types of environment, purity and salinity of the water, tidal amplitude, and climatic conditions. These different factors operate with varying force according to the relative stress laid upon the several lines of work which may be pre- sented at a station. A great international or national station, for example, should be on or near main lines of travel, preferably near a city where the problem of living quarters may be solved indeoend- ently of the station. It should also be located with especial reference to the variety and richness of the fauna and flora and the purity of the water for experimental work. Stations serving local interests and concerned largely in instruction, on the other hand, are usually located with reference to ease and quickness of access to their 45504°—Bull. 4—10 2