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U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



1 foot or more of water in the ponds at all times this trouble can 

 be eliminated as it is under similar natural conditions. In thus 

 controlling the setting of oysters pond areas of protected bottom 

 that are particularly suitable for growing and maturing these shell- 

 fish are created in the marsh. Such areas are greatly needed for 

 the development of oyster culture in the South Atlantic region. An- 

 other advantage of this type of pond is the fact that it can be auto- 

 matically drained at proper intervals for cleaning or harvesting 

 purposes, and particularly for killing, by exposure to air, the boring 

 sponge which is so destructive to oysters on submerged beds in this 

 region. In operation of the ponds, a series of experiments and studies 

 will be made as to the growth rate of oysters and their increase in 

 volume in relation to density of planting, minimum depth of water 

 maintained and the quantity of water supplied by tidal action. 



APPROPRIATIONS 



The biological investigations of the Division of Scientific Inquiry 

 during the calendar year 1937 were conducted with funds provided 

 by the annual appropriation, Inquiry Respecting Food Fishes, and 

 with the aid of small balances, remaining in special funds made avail- 

 able for the fiscal year 1937. The appropriation for 1938 was $262,000 

 but required administrative savings of $30,000 reducing the actual 

 working funds to $232,000. Travel funds appropriated separately 

 for 1938 amounted to $27,000. Approximately one-half of each year's 

 appropriation was spent in the calendar year. 



The 1937 appropriation was about 41/2 percent greater than for 

 1936 and the 1938 appropriation provided a further increase (of 

 roughly 50 percent) in available funds. This increase served to offset 

 the nonavailability of emergency and special funds which in 1937 

 amounted to $42,456 and to expand existing projects. A statement of 

 funds for biological investigations is given below : 



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