REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 25 



A relief model has been made of Narragansett Bay and the adja- 

 cent ocean bed as far south as Point Judith. This model is in plaster, 

 and upon it are shown the configuration of the sea bottom accord- 

 ing to all the soundings indicated on the United States govern- 

 ment chart of the Ba}^, and the conformation of the surrounding land 

 and the islands, according to the topographical map issued by the 

 general government. This work has been completed during the 

 past year. 



The plan for future work in this survey is briefly as follows: 



To continue the survey of the shore in the manner just indicated. 



To complete the list of fishes, and to collect all possible data in 



regard to their migratory movements, their distribution, abundance, 



food, breeding habits, rate of growth, and the identification of the 



eggs and young. 



To complete the list of invertebrate animals, and to collect similar 

 data regarding them. Facts bearing upon their beneficial or detri- 

 mental relations to food animals ^ill be an important part of this 

 subject. 



To make a list of the marine plants, with data concerning their 

 occurrence and usefulness. 



To make a systematic investigation of the microscopic forms 

 which fill the waters of the Bay and constitute the food of nearly 

 all shell-fish, and of the young of both shell-fish and fish. The young 

 of the clams, scallops, oysters, quahaug, star-fish, lobsters, various 

 species of crabs, and most ordinary fishes, mussels, sponges, jelly- 

 fish, worms, etc., constitute a part of this "plankton," and with 

 them swarm the young and old of hundreds of other species 

 of animals besides the spores of various species of algae and fungi, 

 and inconceivable numbers of diatoms. The study of these forms 

 must then be conducted frorti two different points of view: first, 

 as constituting food for most of the edible shell-fish, and directly 

 or indirectly, for all our edible fish; and second, as containing the 

 young of the animals, in which we are especially interested. 



The identification of the larval forms which abound in the tow 



