PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1935 449 



Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi in planning and direct- 

 ing extensive operations for the rehabilitation of public oyster beds 

 in the respective States with funds provided by tlie Federal Emer- 

 gency Relief Administration and Works Progress Administration. 

 In North Carolina assistance was given to the N. C. E. R. A., and 

 the conservation department in technological, statistical, and ad- 

 ministrative matters pertaining to the formation of a cooperative 

 fishermen's organization which began operation in October 1035. 



Laboratory facilities for marine reseai'ch have i^een provided for 

 eight independent investigators from other institutions who were 

 engaged in the following studies : Prof. H. V. Wilson, University of 

 North Carolina, experimental-histological studies on the cellular 

 structure of sponges; J. W. Culbertson, under supervision of Profes- 

 sor Wilson, on the breeding times of sponges; J. S. Denby, Brevard 

 College, study of marine fauna and the ecology of a typical sand 

 shoal; J. H. Pratt, Jr., Harvard Medical School, disposal of indus- 

 trial and domestic trade wastes at Beaufort, N. C, and vicinity in 

 relation to municipal supply and sea-food industries; Prof. Hoyt 

 S. Hopkins, New York University, effect of reducing agents on oxi- 

 dation of tissue in mollusks; Dr. F. G. Walton-Smith, Common- 

 wealth Fund Fellowship, England, physiology of oyster larvae; 

 Dr. Hugh S. Darb}"", Columbia University, development of the fiddler 

 crab; R. S. Collie, North Carolina State Museum, collection and 

 preparation of marine animals for exhibition. 



Terrapin culture. — The propagation of diamond-back terrapin 

 was continued at the Beaufort laboratory in cooperation with the 

 Division of Fish Culture and yielded, in 1935, a total hatch of 13,245 

 young terrapin, which is the greatest annual production obtained 

 in these operations. The highest previous record was that obtained 

 during the preceeding year when a brood of 12,446 w^as produced in 

 the five separate breeding pens. During August and September the 

 newly hatched terrapin Avere collected from the protected egg beds 

 and transferred to the large rearing house where they were given 

 special care and feeding in order to get them in good condition be- 

 fore hibernation. During the winter months, or hibernating period, 

 the young have been kept in a newly constructed outdoor pen located 

 in one of the large terrapin pounds on the north side of the labora- 

 tory. The hibernating pen, having a length of 5G feet and a width 

 of 10 feet was constructed with concrete walls and close fitting, 

 movable wood covers so as to insure complete protection of the 

 young against damage by rats and mice as occurred during the 

 previous season. The distribution of the 1935 brood will be made 

 during the spring of 1936 throughout the South Atlantic coastal 

 waters in cooperation with the various State conservation depart- 

 ments. 



ICHTHYOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 



Investigations in Panama. — Upon the request of Dr. Herbert C. 

 Clark, director of the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, Panama City, 

 cooperative investigations with that laboratoiy were made in 

 Panama. Dr. Samuel F. Hildebrancl was detailed for the work by 

 this Bureau. Largely because of the splendid cooperation offered 

 by Dr. Clark and various Panama Canal officers, a comparatively 



