PROGRESS IliT BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 192 7 247' 



T. K. Chamberlain, director, has had charge of the bureau's investi- 

 gations on fresh-water mussels and has been particularly active in 

 cooperating with the various States and with private organizations 

 concerned with the conservation of aquatic resources of the upper 

 Mississippi River region. The pond-cultural investigations have 

 been under the supervision of Dr. H. S. Davis. A. H. Wiebe, 

 temj)orary assistant, made all chemical determinations and plankton 

 studies necessary in the work, as well as studies of the biology 

 of the various fish used. A conference on pond culture was held 

 at the station on October 6 and 7, 1927. The meeting was called 

 at that time to enable those in attendance to observe the methods 

 employed in handling the ponds and also to obtain some idea of the 

 results attained. The actual work of removing the vegetation, drain- 

 ing the ponds, and collecting, sorting, and counting the fish Avas 

 observed during the two daj^s, and the evenings were spent in dis- 

 cussing the methods employed and principles involved. 



The Key West (Fla.) laboratory was not operated during the year 

 because laboratory facilities are inadequate. 



The four field stations occupied b}^ bureau investigators during the 

 year consisted of laboratory and office facilities kindly donated for 

 indefinite but temporary use. The University of Michigan has pro-: 

 vided several rooms for the use of Dr. John Van Oosten and his 

 assistants, who are engaged in Great Lakes investigations. For a 

 number of years Stanford University has furnished laboratory quar- 

 ters for bureau workers and recently provided additional space for 

 Dr. W. H. Rich, H. B. Holmes, H. C. McMillin, and temporary 

 assistants. In addition to housing the staff of the International 

 Fisheries Commission, which is engaged in the halibut investigations, 

 the College of Fisheries of the University of Washington has pro- 

 vided quarters for George A. Rounsefell and his temporary assist- 

 ants for herring investigations. Field headquarters for the Texas 

 fishery investigation were maintained at Corpus Christi, where the 

 city donated offices and laboratory space. The advantages of main- 

 taining headquarters for field workers in universities, where labora- 

 tory facilities are excellent and access may be had to great libraries, 

 are obvious, and the .cooperation of such institutions is appreciated 

 greatly. 



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