"Every one has a share; in the Fisheries, no work is wasted, no energy is lost. Whether it be such research as that which you have seen me doing upon the oyster drill, or the spectacular administration of the seal herds on the Pribilof Islands, or the dry statistical work of estimating the value of a fishery—on which work Dr. Crafts
writes me he is going to send you—each part has its place and a big place. The aims of the Bureau are on so vast a scale that nothing is petty. We think in terms of millions and tens of millions, and Nature responds. There are more showy ways of helping the world, but for the accomplishment of great results I know of none superior."
"You said, sir," said Colin, who had been startled by the reference to himself, "that Dr. Crafts had some other work for me?"
"Yes," was the reply. "You know that the Laboratory here only keeps open until the first of September, don't you?"
"Yes, Mr. Prelatt."
"What had you thought of doing between then and college?"
"I hadn't made any plans."
"I have a letter from the Deputy Commissioner, here," the director continued, "in which he asks me if there is any one of the young fellows whom I have had for the summer who would like to go with one of the statistical field agents, and he suggests your name, should you wish to go. It will be a short stay, not more than ten days or so, and won't interfere with your getting back to college."
"I should like to go, ever so much," said Colin, "and I think it's awfully good of Dr. Crafts to think of me."