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Vi. THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
1. INTRODUCTION
To THE TRUSTEES OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
Gentlemen: r beg leave to submit herewith a report concerning
the work of the Marine Biological Laboratory for the years 1907-
1908, with an appendix containing a compilation of the publications
which have been based, wholly or in part, on work done
at the Laboratory during the entire period of its existence. In
this. introductory statement I shall comment briefly on the general
functions of the Laboratory and on each of the main divisions of
the report. Acknowledgments are due the treasurer and the
librarian for their contributions to the report.
The year 1908 was marked by the resignation of Professor
Whitman who had served the laboratory as director from its
birth to its coming of age. It has rarely happened that the
spirit and ideals of an institution have approximated so closely
to the conceptions of its director. No greater tribute could be
paid ,to the wisdom and forethought of the ideals with which
Professor Whitman endowed the laboratory at its start than the
fact that they have proved the fertile germ of the ideals to
which, after twenty-one years of trial, we stil remain loyaL.
Through the organization of the Marine Biological Laboratory
Professor Whitman has impressed his high conceptions Of scientific
investigation upon biology in America, and has thus contributed
more than any other single person to the present high
status of biological investigation in this country.
The continuation of the work of the Laboratory so that it shall
maintain a high standing and continue as an effeCtive factor in
the progress of biological investigation imposes no light responsibility
upon the trustees and offcers.' Our purpose is
essentially ideal and its pursuit demands our best efforts and our
loyalty. I believe that we should oontinue to maintain the
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