XJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



and classification of larval fishes and also to certain features in their 

 life history, especially their food and feeding habits, distribution, 

 and growth. A large collection made over a number of years by 

 the late Vinal N. Edwards is available for study. The seasonal 

 variation in abundance of 36 species has been studied during the year. 



FISHES OF KEY WEST. 



At the Key West station Isaac Ginsberg, the director, made an 

 eifort further to build up the collection of a representative series of 

 fishes of that vicinity that was started several years ago. Many 

 specimens were added to the collection and progress was made in the 

 identification and labeling of the specimens. Data concerning the 

 occurrence, seasonal distribution, and abundance of the local fishes 

 also were collected. 



INTEKNATIONAL COMMITTEE ON MARINE FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS. 



Two meetings were held during the year — the first in Washington 

 on November 10, 1922, and the second in Toronto on May 4, 1923. It 

 is gratifying to record that at the second meeting the newl}^ elected 

 member from France was present. The purpose of the committee is 

 to secure coordination of the various investigations pertaining to 

 marine fisheries conducted by the several member countries. Among 

 the more important topics discussed are the following : 



Statistics of the deep-sea fisheries. — Information was given to the 

 effect that the collection of the Canadian statistics is becoming more 

 thorough. In the opinion of the committee it is desirable that each 

 country represented should publish an annual statement of the total 

 yield of the bank fisheries of the western Atlantic, and that the rep- 

 resentatives of the several countries undertake to exchange the data 

 for such annual statement. 



Tagging of fish. — Interest was expressed by the committee in the 

 tagging of codfish, pollock, and haddock, which is being undertaken 

 by the bureau on the banks off the coast of New England. 



Drift hottle experiments. — It was reported that a preliminary 

 statement covering the more important results of the experiments of 

 1922 had been prepared and that the account in its final form would 

 be furnished the various countries represented for publication if de- 

 sired. A plan for the season of 1923 was presented, which involved 

 the putting out of drift bottles along 14 lines covering the coast from 

 the Strait of Belle Isle to Vineyard Sound. 



Oceanographic investigation's hy the ice patrol service. — Apprecia- 

 tion was expressed of the work accomplished by the ice patrol 

 service. In the opinion of the committee this work should be ex- 

 tended considerably in the future. 



Mackerel investigation. — The committee went on record as con- 

 sidering it most desirable in the near future to initiate a comprehen- 

 sive investigation of the mackerel. 



At the close of the year the committee consisted of the follow- 

 ing members: For Newfoundland, D. James Davies; for France, E. 

 LeDanois ; for Canada, W. A. Found, Dr. J. P. McMurrich, and Dr. 

 A. S. Huntsman ; for the United States, Dr. H. F. Moore, Dr. H. B. 

 Bigelow, and W. H. Rich. 



