Ki INLAND F18HP];iIES. 



ditioiis. The limited resources of the Commission, however, have 

 prevented them from giving the attention to this subject which it 

 really deserves. 



Four hundred and eighty- four specific gravity and temperature 

 observations have been taken. 



In perfectly pure fresh water the saliuometer reading is 1.000 ; 

 but as the water becomes hard, through the addition of salts, the 

 readings of the salinometer increase, and in the open ocean, near 

 Block Island, the heaviest water taken had a specific weight of 

 1.025 ; and at no locality south of the line drawn from Beaver 

 Tail to Sakonnet was it of less density than 1.023. As we ascend 

 the Baj^ the water becomes less and less salt, and readings as low 

 as 1.020 were taken near Allen's Harbor, to the westward of Pru- 

 dence Island, and near Bristol Ferry. The salinity of the water 

 in the Providence river was considerably less, being 1.017 near 

 Sassafras Point ; although the surface water was only 1.008. As 

 has already been stated, the record of a single series of specific 

 gravity observations, in itself, is of no moment; but inasmuch as 

 it is the purpose of the Commission to add extensively to the data 

 during the coming year, this permanent record will prove of con- 

 siderable value inasmuch as the salinity of the water bears upon 

 the question of successful oyster culture. 



Although, as is well known, fresh water is fatal to the oyster, 

 and prolonged immersion in the water, even as fresh as 1.007, will 

 very materially affect the marketable qualities of the animal, suc- 

 cessful oyster culture cannot be carried on in water that is, for 

 any considerable period, lighter than 1.011 or heavier than 1.022. 

 Between these limits there are still large tracts of available ground 

 in the upper portion of the bay which are still unoccupied by 

 oyster culturists, and there are also a great many localities far- 

 ther down the bay, near the openings of fresh Avater streams, 

 where, with proper protection and freedom from the invasion of 

 the starfish, oysters of fine quality may be raised. 



The folloAving section on biological conditions prevailing in the 

 waters of the Bay and on the bottom, although technical, is of im- 



