INLAND FISHERIES. 35 



channels of the Sakonnet River and the East and West Passages '? 

 In other words, is the present excessive abundance of the starfish 

 due to propagation within the waters of the Bay, or is it the result 

 of migration from extra-territorial areas ? If the former, efforts 

 toward the annihilation of the pest would probably prove success- 

 ful ; if the latter, such efforts, except on a grand scale, would prove 

 futile. 



The Commission was materially aided in prospecting this line 

 of work by the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 

 who generously detailed the steamer " Fish Hawk", amply ecpiip- 

 ped with scientific apparatus, and manned by an able body of men 

 speciallj" trained for this line of work. 



The results of this investigation are most satisfactory, since thej^ 

 prove that the stars, so immediately damaging to the oyster, clam, 

 and scallop iudustries, and, through the rapidity with which they 

 devour the mussels, indirectly damaging to the general fisheries 

 of the State, are actually the result of home breeding, and are 

 proliably never materially re-inforced through migration of the 

 adults from outlying waters. Indeed, it is probable that even the 

 larvte are not brought into the Bay by the currents in such numbers 

 as to materially affect the local biological conditions. 



There are, besides the " red star " (Cribrella) and the " snake 

 star " (0]3hiopholis), three different varieties of starfish common 

 to our coast. Of these, the first, or common star, is known to the 

 fishermen as the "five-finger." The second is of more delicate 

 texture, soft, and of a rich orange or maroon color. The third is 

 of a purplish color. Of these varieties the first is the only one of 

 economic interest at the present 'time, and the investigations have 

 shown that, while it occurs in vast swarms Avithin the waters of 

 the Bay, it is only occasionally found in the heavier waters of the 

 ocean. On the other hand, the " maroon stars " are frequently 

 found off" Brenton's Reef, along the shore line near Point Judith, 

 and around Block Island. With the " maroon stars " are the still 

 less abundant purple stars. The area of distribution of the com- 

 mon stars is thus seen to be practically limited by a line drawn 



