PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1937 67 



Tlie study has resulted in the discovery of several new species, in a 

 better iniderstanding: of the relationships existing- between the various 

 species, and in a more logical division of genera. 



Fishes of Torfvgas^ FJa. — Because of a desire expressed by the late 

 Dr. William H. Longley shortly before his death, Dr. Hildebrand was 

 requested by the President of the Carnegie Institution to complete a 

 monograph on the fislies of Tortugas. Dr. Longley's studies had 

 extended over many years, but his manuscript was unfinished at the 

 lime of his death. 



General Sifstematic Studies. — Revisional studies of the genera of 

 American fishes have been continued by Isaac Ginsburg. With the 

 completion of a paper dealing with certain genera of the difficult 

 family Gobiidae, the majority of the species of this family in American 

 waters have been worked up on a sound scientific basis. In connec- 

 tion with his revisional studies ^Ir. Ginsburg gave his attention to the 

 species problem, and published a preliminary paper on this question 

 which is of general biological significance. 



INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES OF THE FISHERIES BIOLOGICAL 



LABORATORIES 



W'OODS HOLE, MASS. 



Although the laboratory of the U. S. Fisheries station at Woods 

 Hole was not open during the summer, a small nimiber of outside in- 

 vestigators were accommodated for limited periods. As usual, the 

 facilities w^ere utilized in connection with the oyster investigations 

 reported upon elsewhere. In addition, the following persons occupied 

 and worked in the laboratory rooms : Dr. Hugh M. Smith, associate 

 curator in zoology, IT. S. National Museum, working on completion 

 of re])ort on fresh water fishes of Siam ; Dr. Edwin Linton, Univer- 

 sity of Pennsylvania, helminth parasites of fishes; E. H. Barnes, 

 biologist, Division of Fish and Game, Massachusetts State Depart- 

 ment of Conservation, ])erfecting the methods of hatching and rearing 

 lobsters; Dr. F. G. Hall, professor of zoology, Duke University, 

 assisted by Dr. F. H. McCutchson, State College". Raleigh. N. C. and 

 Dr. J. W. Wilson, Duke University, respiratory function of the blood 

 of marine fishes. Lack of sufficient funds made it impossible to 

 operate the laboratory on the same basis as in the years prior to 1932. 



KEATTFORT, N. C. 



Research. — Facilities for the study of marine fishery problems in 

 the South Atlantic region were provided throughout the year by the 

 Beaufort laboratory. The chief investigations conducted here by 

 tlie I^ureau's staff under the direction of Dr. H. F. Prytherch con- 

 sisted of experiments and studies with reference to (1) the life history 

 and control of a sporozoan ])arasite of the oyster, (2) the propaga- 

 tion of diamond-l)ack terrapin, and (3) the utilization of marsh areas 

 for mullet and oyster propagation. 



Assistance was given to the following agencies, as indicated, on 

 matters of importance to the fishery industries of the South Atlantic 

 region: U. S. Engineer Department, advisal)ility of deepening and 

 maintaining Drum Inlet and Cape Lookout Iidet as an aid to the 

 fishing industry in Core Sound, N. C. ; U. S. Post Office Department, 



