6 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



and lobster and scallop would be effective, if they could reasonably 

 be enforced. 



Especial investigations which the commission have undertaken 

 have been directed to the star-fish, clam, scallop, quahaug, lobster, 

 flat-fish, tile-fish, " red-water," and to diatoms and other microscopic 

 forms which furnish food for most of the shell-fish. The star-fish 

 became the object of investigation because of its terrible destruc- 

 tiveness to the oyster. Attention was therefore directed to its 

 breeding season and habits ; to the dispersal of the swimming 

 young by the tides ; to the great destruction of the star-fish at this 

 stage by the menhaden ; to the possibility of destroying young 

 stars by the removal of grass and seaweed ; to the rate of growth 

 and the age at which they reach sexual maturity ; to the age at 

 which they become destructive to oysters; to their destructiveness 

 to other animals, like clams, mussels, etc.; to the method employed 

 by the star-fish in opening oysters ; to the enemies of the star-fish 

 and to the methods of destroying star-fish, including the effect of 

 the old method of tearing them to pieces, and their power of re- 

 generation. 



The work of the commission on the clam problem has resulted 

 in definite information on the season and manner of breeding, the 

 rate of growth, the dependence of the rate of growth upon various 

 conditions of location, etc., the distribution of clams in the Bay, 

 the age at which clams begin to breed, the age at which they at- 

 tain edible size, the effect of excessive digging, the effect of natural 

 enemies and of " churning," also the effect of setting aside areas 

 of shore which shall not be dug, and the impossibility of absolute 

 extermination. Among the most important results of this work 

 are the methods devised of catching the spat, of assisting nature 

 to restock the shores by sowing young clams, and the progress in 

 artificial clam culture. 



The investigations have now reached the practical stage. There 

 is no doubt that the shores of our Bay could be made to produce, 

 not double the present output, but hundreds of times the present 

 output. There are many problems which remain partly or wholly 



