18 REPORT OF COMMI.SSIOXEKS OF IXLAXD FISHERIES. 



it, which was a foot or more in diameter." Tlie "string" was 

 composed only of star-fishes. 



I have never observed anj^thing to confirm in the slightest de- 

 gree the truth of these stories, though I have seen balls of star- 

 fish clinging to each other. Upon examination it was evident 

 that the stars were all endeavoring to devour some animal held in 

 their midst. 



It is difficult to conceive of a barrier which would be practical 

 and efficient in keeping the stars off the oyster bed. The animals 

 can creep over any surface and through small crevices provided 

 they are under water. Theoretically a fine netting across the 

 inlet of an estuary or surrounding the beds, and extending from 

 the surface of high water to the bottom, would keep out the larger 

 stars ; or if the oysters were susiiended from floats and kept off 

 the bottom the stars could not readily reach them. Neither of 

 these contrivances would, of course, keep off the young stars which 

 for the first two or three weeks of their existence swim about 

 freelj^ in the water. 



IV. Are the star-fish which are reputed to appear in schools in 

 any ivay different from those known to occur naturally in a 

 particidar locality ? 



I have thus far not had an opportunity to examine the star-fish 

 reported to appear in schools. 



y. To or from what distance may star-fish migrcde? 

 I have not yet made experiments to determine. 



VI. Whcd animals are devoured hy the star-fish for Food ? {If the 

 young star-fish feed habitually upon certain animcds, it is 

 p>ossihle that the destruction of the Icdter will cause the former 

 to perish.) 



The young star-fish are exceedingly voracious, perhaps more so 

 than the older ones. The}^ find an abundance of food among the 

 myriads of small animals of various kinds which live among rocks 



