42 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



exhausted, for the systematic investigations of such questions as the 

 factors influencing the local distribution of fishes and their time of 

 arrival and departure, the influence of fishing in the abundance of 

 fishes, their rate of growth, spawning and many other similar prob- 

 lems. 



Other methods of fishing which often yield interesting scientific 

 data are the fyke nets in the early spring and the seine fishery for 

 menhaden. The oyster dredge also often secures specimens of such 

 bottom species as toadfish, flatfishes, blennies, sculpins, lump-fishes, 

 etc. Another important source of information is furnished by the 

 recent considerable development of the winter trawl fishing in Narra- 

 gansett Bay. By following this fishing systematically, our present 

 knowledge would be much enriched, particularly with regard to the 

 bottom forms and the fish life of our waters during the winter. 



The study of the fauna of Block Island would be a subject of 

 unique interest. A small amount of information regarding the fresh- 

 water fishes of the island has been secured. Further investigation of 

 the fresh-water fauna would not only be of interest in itself, but might 

 furnish an important contribution to general biological theory. The 

 marine life of its shores also has a peculiar interest. Block Island 

 is located so near the boundaries between the northern and southern 

 division of the Atlantic coast fauna, and so near deep water, that it 

 undoubtedly has a fauna of great richness and variety. There is 

 every reason to suppose that it is as favorably situated in these re- 

 spects as Woods Hole. Fishermen say that frequently in these off- 

 shore waters they take fish which are new to them, and that they see 

 even whole schools of unfamiliar species. It is to be hoped that a 

 thorough study of the biological conditions of the whole island may . 

 sometime be undertaken. 



In addition to these questions of more or less local interest, there 

 are two general lines of investigation which the writer believes to be 

 fundamental to any very extensive advance toward the solution of 

 unsolved problems connected with the fisheries. An ultimate factor 

 in the life history of all organisms is its food supply. The final 



