12 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES, 



M'ill depend upon cLdtivation, and the speed}' conclusion of these 

 experiments will be a source of satisfaction. It is estimated that 

 about $1,500,000 worth of sponges were taken in Florida during the 

 past year, and the failure of the fishery, therefore, would be the ruin 

 of one of the important industries of the State. 



TERRAPIN EXPERIMENTS. 



The experiments to develop a system of terrapin culture, conducted 

 on the Choptank River in Maryland, have been continued. During 

 the past year a considerable number of eggs were laid and hatched, 

 and the habits and growth of both young and adults were closely 

 studied. There appears to be little difficulty in inducing the diamond- 

 back terrapin to breed in captivity, but the rate of growth is so slow 

 as to make it uncertain whether artificial culture can be made a com- 

 mercial success. The work will be continued until definite results 

 are attained. 



MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES. 



The two marine laboratories of the Bureau, at Woods Hole, Mass., 

 and Beaufort, N. C, were engaged as usual in studies of the adjacent 

 waters. At AVoods Hole the biological survey was continued by sup- 

 plemental dredgings to verify doubtful results and to supply speci- 

 mens for a study of the materials of the sea floor in their relation to 

 the distribution of plants and animals, and by systematic shore collec- 

 tions to develop the distribution of the plants and animals of the 

 littoral. Sufficient material has now been gathered to furnish ap- 

 proximately complete and accurate data for a comprehensive report 

 on the flora and fauna of the region, and considerable progress has 

 been made in identifying the collections and digesting the results. 

 The reference museum of the local fauna has been improved until it 

 now contains a fairly representative set of specimens authoritatively 

 identified by specialists. 



Thirty-two investigators availed themselves of the facilities of the 

 laboratory. Their work was of varied character, embracing some 

 investigations of great importance to the fisheries, chief of which 

 was the continuation of an inquiry into the food value of certain 

 hitherto unused marine animals. It is believed that species such as 

 the dogfish, not only of little present value but often a menace to the 

 other fisheries, may be made an important source of income to the 

 fishermen. 



At Beaufort considerable progress was made in the study of the 

 local fauna and its relations to the fisheries. A number of investi- 

 gators were accommodated at the laboratory. The habits of fishes 

 and other marine animals were studied, and experiments in the artifi- 

 cial raising of sponges and in clam and oyster culture were carried on 

 in continuation of the work of the preceding year. The seaweeds of 



