PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL, INQUIRIES, 1924 29 



mens and crustaceans and some of the more important plants also 

 were taken. The fish collection has been studied and a systematic 

 report concerning these fish will soon be ready to be submitted. The 

 plants were identified by Mr. Stanley, of the United States National 

 Museum, who has collected plants extensively in El Salvador. The 

 plankton specimens were turned over to Dr. C. Dwi<rht Marsh, of the 

 division of animal industry, Department of Agriculture. The crus- 

 taceans were identified by Doctors Rathb'un and Schmitt, of the 

 United States National Museum. 



It was found that food fishes are scarce. This, however, is not 

 to be wondered at, for the country is densely settled and no measures 

 of conservation have ever been enacted. Fishing is carried on at all 

 seasons, frequently by destructive methods, including the use of a 

 very destructive plant poison as well as dynamite when obtainable. 

 Neither is there any limit to the size of the fish which may be taken. 

 Fish 2 inches and upward in length are seen in the markets daily, 

 both in the dried and fresh state. 



In a preliminary report concerning the investigation, which was 

 submitted to the Salvadorian Government, recommendations were 

 made for the protection of the fresh-water fishes. It was also sug- 

 gested that while the fresh waters apparently were greatly over- 

 fished the salt waters of the coast and the estuaries were practically 

 untouched. 



The top minnows, although used for food and not infrequently 

 present in the markets, are abundant in aearly all the permanent 

 waters visited, and mosquito breeding appears to be reduced to a 

 jninimum, while in disconnected pools and cow tracks containing 

 no fish mosquitoes were breeding prolifically. It was recommended 

 that the use of top minnows for food be discouraged as far as pos- 

 sible, and that their sale be prohibited by law. An interesting col- 

 lection of fishes and other forms was made and transmitted to the 

 United States National JMuseum. A longer and more complete re- 

 port is being prepared. This report contains statements in regard 

 to the great scarcity of fish in the Republic, the destructive methods 

 of fishing in use are denounced, and recommendations for regula- 

 tions that may be helpful in conserving and building up the fisheries 

 are made. The employment of a biologist to study the habits of the 

 local fishes is strongly recommended, as' it is impossible to induce 

 sane measures of conservation until more is known about the habits 

 of the fishes. The spawning season of even the commonest food 

 fishes is not now known with any degree of certainty. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF SHELLFISH AND TERRAPIN 



OYSTERS 



J. S. Outsell, scientific assistant, continued his studies of the oyster- 

 set problems of the Connecticut shore of Long Island Sound and of 

 Great South Bay. Long Island. Investigations were made at Great 

 South Bay chiefiy for two reasons: (1) To discover the cause of the 

 heavy mortality of the set or spat which sometimes occurs there, 

 and (2) to add to the knowledge of the early life history of the 

 oyster and of the factors affecting spawning. Because of the ex- 

 -cellent surv-ival durinjr the summer of 1923 onlv negative evidence as 



