Newsletter No. 24

CUHK Newsletter No24 November 1991 The Marine Science Laboratory Birth of a Laboratory The Marine Science Laboratory was the brain child of Dr. L.B. Trott, who joined the University some 20 years ago as lecturer in biology. Today, although most people at The Chinese University know of the laboratory, few have ever actually visited it. Dr. Trott was keen to take advantage of the fact that the campus of The Chinese University was situated right next to a harbour - Tolo Harbour. The University was also enthusiastic about having a laboratory on campus to encourage basic research in all facets of marine science, and readily consented to Dr. Trott's idea. However, limited resources at the time meant that the laboratory was initially established under the Institute of Science and Technology, and it was not until 1973 that it became a permanent part of the Department of Biology, The Early Years Located on the western shore of Tolo Harbour, the Marine Science Laboratory was completed in 1971. Facilities included research laboratories equipped with a wide variety of oceanographic apparatus, quarters for live-in staff, a 300-square foot sea water room, and a storeroom for small ships. The sea water room was connected to two outdoor holding tanks, each 10 feet in diameter. The Pearl Fish, a 44-foot diesel research launch, well equipped with a winch and sonar, was anchored in a private pier next to the compound. Sadly, however, the maintenance costs for a launch of this size proved simply too much, and the Pearl Fish was later replaced by a smaller vessel, the 17-foot Clown Fish. The staffing of the laboratory was as sparse as its equipment. Apart from Dr. Trott, who served as its first director, there was one janitor, one laboratory technician, and a crew of four for the launch. The director himself shouldered all of the daily responsibility for the laboratory. Changes and Expansion After 1973 ， when the laboratory Black sea bream eggs one day af ter