18 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



for the marine fishery investigations of the several countries. 

 Through the discussions of work accomplished or in contemplation 

 and the information and suggestions gained in meeting, it is possible 

 for functioning agencies of the several Governments to plan and 

 conduct investigations in a manner more productive of results and 

 more helpful to all concerned. 



An illustration of the value of cooperation through this com- 

 mittee is afforded by the attempt now being made to gain more 

 complete information regarding the movements of ocean waters in 

 the North Atlantic. Plans were made for the extensive use of drift 

 bottles put out along certain predetermined lines and as nearly as 

 practicable at the same time. A line was to be run by Newfoundland 

 from Cape Race across the Grand Banks for a distance of 200 miles; 

 Canada was to set bottles adrift on lines that would run, respectively, 

 from Sydney to Port aux Basques, a distance of approximately 85 

 miles from Canso to the north of Sable Island, a distance of 150 

 miles; the United States undertook to place drift bottles on lines 

 running, respectively, from Cape Elizabeth across Cashes Ledge, a 

 distance of 75 miles, from Chatham, Mass., on a course south-south- 

 east for a distance of 150 miles, and from Sandy Hook on a course 

 south-southeast for a distance of 150 miles. Two types of bottles 

 are employed, distinguished merely by the depth at which is sus- 

 pended a metal drag that determines the course of the bottle as it 

 is affected by the current. The bottles were to be set adrift usually 

 at half-mile intervals, one of each type being placed at each point. 

 A considerable part of the program had been done by the close of 

 the fiscal year, the fisheries steamer Halcyon having been employed 

 by the United States Bureau of Fisheries for its part of the work. 

 To judge from previous experiences in the use of drift bottles, a 

 sufficient number of those now set adrift should be recovered to 

 afford a substantial contribution to the knowledge of ocean currents 

 and drifts in the northern section of the North Atlantic, 



At the November meeting the committee considered and approved a 

 form, by the vise of which, beginning the first of the calendar year 

 1922, uniforraity might obtain in reporting statistics of offshore 

 fisheries. Plans are under discussion for beginning at an early date 

 an invest] gy.tion of the life histories of the cod and the haddock, 

 and consule/ation is being given to the possibility and the best means 

 of taggrng ocean fish on an extensive scale in order that more may 

 be learned regarding the migrations of food fishes of the sea. 



At the close of the year the committee consisted of the following 

 members : For Newfoundland, P. James Davies ; 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 Dr. R. E. 

 Coker. 



FRESH-WATER MUSSELS. 

 INVESTIGATIONS OF CONDITIONS OF MUSSEL CULTURE. 



At the present time the primary aims of the investigations of fresh- 

 water mussels conducted in connection with the Fisheries Biological 

 Station at Fairport, Iowa, are, first, to acquire the information neces- 

 sary to promote economy and effectiveness of operations in the 

 propagation of mussels by the infection of fishes that are liberated 



