246 MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 



to Study these changes and ascertain their law, if possi- 

 ble, in addition to the careful study of the biological 

 problems otherwise involved. 



Two such investigations are now being carried out by 

 the Commission, one upon the ocean, and the other in 

 Long Island Sound. A description of these will suffice 

 to give an idea of the character of the physical work 

 which is now being carried on, and its importance as an 

 element in the study of this problem of making good a 

 deficiency in such an essential food product, caused by 

 the increased demands of our times, and intensified in 

 its effect by the carelessness or thoughtlessness of our 

 fishermen through ignorance and in some instances 

 wilfulness in the pursuit of a merely temporary gain. 



In order to give a practical and positive character to 

 the investigation upon the ocean, the region between 

 Nantucket Island on the east and Block Island on the 

 west was taken, since it lies in the track of the schools 

 of fish. After consideration, it was decided that a pre- 

 liminary survey should be made to obtain some definite 

 ideas upon the relations of the cold and warm currents, 

 the changes which take place in their relations, the 

 influence of the winds and other meteorological phe- 

 nomena in producing these changes, and to notice any 

 effect produced by the tides. The Fish Commission 

 schooner Grampus was placed at my disposal, and out- 

 fitted with the proper apparatus and instruments, to 

 carry out this work as an experiment, to see whether 

 any results of interest could be obta,ined. 



A series of lines 130 miles in length and at ten-mile 

 (ten minutes of longitude) intervals from one another, 

 were laid out between the two above-mentioned islands. 



