Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners 105 

 Boats. 



The launch "CANVASBACK." 31 with a coxswain and engi- 

 neer, has been furnished by the United States Bureau of 

 Fisheries. This launch, 42 feet long, 9 foot beam, has a draft 

 of three feet and is hence well adapted for work on oyster 

 grounds the boundaries of which extend into water as shallow 

 as four feet. 



The "ANGLE," 31 a dead-rise bateau, 24 feet in length, belong- 

 ing to the Commission, has been used for surveying grounds too 

 small in extent or situated in water too shallow for the advan- 

 tageous use of the launch "CANVASBACK." 



The Steamer "GOVERNOR R. M. McLANE," belonging to 

 the State Fishery Force and placed at the disposal of the Com- 

 mission in accordance with Section 97 of the Haman Oyster 

 Culture Law, has been used for surveying oyster grounds 

 situated in the bold waters of the Bay adjacent to Somerset 

 County. The chief uses to which this steamer has been put, 

 however, have been the placing of buoys at the corners of the 

 natural oyster bars; towing the houseboat "OYSTER" from 

 one anchorage to another and for transporting supplies (coal, 

 water and provisions) to the houseboat. 



The launch "INVESTIGATOR," 32 a bay canoe, 34 feet long 

 with 7.5 foot beam, purchased by the Commission and fitted 

 with an eight-horse-power Fairbanks gasoline engine, has been 

 used during the year 1907 for making examinations of oyster 

 grounds and for collecting data and specimens for the physical 

 and biological investigations. During 1906 various boats were 

 hired for this work, but the necessity for increasing the num- 

 ber of examinations of the grounds surveyed was later realized 

 and a launch more perfectly adapted for the work was there- 

 fore fitted up. 33 



A scow, the "MARYLAND," 32 feet long and 12 feet wide, 

 has been built and equipped by the Commission for use in trans- 

 porting the buoys and sinkers and placing them at the corners 



3iSee frontispiece. 

 32See figure 1. 



ssFor a detailed account of the work and equipment of the Investiga- 

 tor, see pages 37 and 116. 



