1961-1962 - American Museum of Natural History

delicate scientific instruments in the laboratory.
The installation of a new system for the supply of salt water,
and the provision of an outside aquarium shed, have made it
possible to remove a source of high humidity and corrosion
from the main laboratory building. The new water system provides
sea water from the Gulf Stream at a considerable pressure
after it has been filtered through many feet of beach sand;
hence, the supply is free of many contaminants that were present
in the old system.
Through the generosity of Mr. William Knight of Toledo,
Ohio, and with the interest and the support of the Biology Branch
of the Office of Naval Research, three open-water porpoise pens
were constructed adjacent to an existing dock. Each pen encompasses
an area of 60 by 80 feet, with depths ranging from
five to ten feet. This installation will provide excellent opportunities
for extensive research programs with porpoises.
Important additions to the fleet of marine craft were two
United States Navy buoy boats, made available through the
helpful cooperation of the Biology Branch of the Office of Naval
Research. One of these boats contains a large sea well, capable
of transporting, alive, large sharks and porpoises or a great
number of small fish. The other vessel is equipped with a laboratory
in which marine research can be done on the open sea.
Among the scientific organizations that held meetings at the
laboratory this year were the Shark Research Panel of the
American Institute of Biological Sciences and the Damon
Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research.
SOUTHWESTERN RESEARCH STATION
PORTAL, ARIZONA
Willis J. Gertsch, Acting Resident Director
In its seventh year of operation, the Southwestern Research
Station in Portal, Arizona, served the needs of 63 visiting investigators
and 27 specialists and assistants. Their studies
dealt with the following branches of science: arachnology, bot-
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