REPORT OP COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. <) 



commission, many thousands of short lobsters have been returned 

 to the water to become breeders of future generations. 



The scheme of " reversed legislation," recently urged through 

 the Massachusetts commission and through the press, namely, 

 that the law should protect from capture all lobsters above nine 

 inches or so in length, and allow to be caught without restriction 

 lobsters smaller than this, is, in the opinion of the commission, 

 highly undesirable. The present plan, which deals with the 

 lobster on the same principle which has proved successful in 

 protecting fresh-water fish, game, etc., is the correct one and 

 promises better results. The commission would deplore the in- 

 troduction of such a subverting method of procedure in this or 

 adjoining States, especially at a time when the artificial hatch- 

 ing and rearing of lobsters to the "lobstering" stage promises to 

 be of practical benefit. 



The commission have undertaken, as a part of their legitimate 

 work, to interest the general public in the further investigations 

 of the food animals of Narragansett Bay, and have prepared for 

 exhibition several series of specimens illustrating the rate of 

 growth of the star-fish, clam, scallop, and lobster, with a relief map, 

 or model, of Narragansett Bay, showing the configuration of the 

 bottom, the location of oyster beds, etc.; and have begun a collec- 

 tion of rare fishes and other specimens of educational importance. 

 This collection was exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition, 

 where it was awarded a gold medal, and last summer was loaned 

 for exhibition at Crescent Park. It is now permanently installed 

 at the rooms of the commission in the State Capitol. 



Your commission would take this occasion to thank your hon- 

 orable body for generous appropriations which have made it pos- 

 sible to carry on their work. The experience which has been 

 gained by uninterrupted work, and the valuable equipment which 

 has gradually been acquired, consisting of a first-class floating 

 laboratory, a launch, and several small boats, make it possible for 

 them to work to better advantage than ever before. 



