90 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



been brought together, partly as a result of the summer iuvestigations 

 (luring mauy years past, and partly through the active exertions of Mr. 

 V. N. Edwards, whose collecting work at all seasons during a long 

 period has been productive of many important discoveries and has 

 furnished a practically complete history of the iishes of the region. 

 The series is most perfect as regards tlie tishes, but it also contains a 

 very large representation of the groups of invertebrates, illustrating 

 the fauna of both the littoral zone and of the adjacent deeper waters. 



The collection is especially valuable to the investigators studying at 

 Woods Hole, who are thereby enabled to identify, with little trouble, 

 the material on which they are at work, and as the basis of a local 

 check list it must prove of great assistance. One of the small rooms 

 on the second floor of the building has all along been assigned to the 

 purposes of a museum, but the limited space, as well as the open board 

 shelving provided, have not been adequate to the safe-keeping and 

 appropriate display of the specimens. At the close of tbe World's 

 Columbian Exposition, a number of substantial and ornamental cases 

 used there were transported to Woods Hole, and those have aflbrded 

 the means for the new arrangement consummated during the summer of 

 1894. They have been placed in the north hall on the main floor, Avhere 

 there is ample space and where they can conveniently be reached by the 

 public. It is proposed to make up the desiderata in the collection as 

 opportunities occur. The marine aquaria have also been rearranged in 

 an artistic manner in a room adjacent to the above, where they will better 

 serve the ])urpose of both the student and the general visitor. 



Experiments were also carried on under Mr, Moore's direction in the 

 use of the new preservative, formalin, which is now attracting much 

 attention, and the most satisfactory results were obtained. It was 

 found to be admirably suited to the preparation both of museum spe- 

 cimens and of those intended for future study, whether of delicate 

 organization, like the polyps, or of more hardy texture, like the fishes. 

 The contraction and distortion is much less than with alcohol j the 

 specimens retain a strikingly life-like appearance and the colors are 

 preserved to a considerable extent. 



Dr. James I, Peck, assistant professor of biology iu Williams College, 

 continued for the Commission his interesting observations on the food 

 of marine tishes, begun in 1893, with the menhaden as his subject. 

 These consisted, in part, of the determination of the stomach contents 

 of specimens of several of the important tishes and iu part of plankton 

 studies. The fishes examined were the squeteague, bluefish, sea bass, 

 scup, and tautog, which exhibit considerable differences iu feeding 

 habit, although all are carnivorous. Of the squeteague, 570 individuals 

 were opened, much more than in the case of any of the other species. 

 The character and quantity of each kind of food were accurately deter- 

 mined, and the resulting tables are of great interest. The studies were 

 carried much further, however, in tlie direction of tracing back the food 

 of fishes, through successive stages, to its primary basis, leading to the 



