INLAND FISHERIES. 



III. The Dcteriiiination of the Breeding Periods of Natlt^e Mar'ute 



Animals. 



Inasmuch as the movemeuts of fish are largely controlled by 

 the food supply, and the food supply is the direct consequent of 

 the reproductive activity of the lower animals, it is essential that 

 the Commission should have data relative to the breeding- habits 

 of both fish and the lower marine animals. The data collected 

 during the past year has been published in " Science," where it is 

 available for reference, and hence it seems unnecessary to publish 

 it again in this report. 



IV. The Location of Fish Trajys and Other Instrnnients for the 



Cafture of Fish. 



The statutes of Rhode Island provide that the Commission " shall 

 from time to time examine all the weirs, traps, and other contri- 

 vances, with the vieAv of carrying out such regulations as are most 

 beneficial to the people of the State." At the beginning of the 

 present year the State had no information as to the number, loca- 

 tion, or ownership of fish traps, and was consequently unadvised 

 respecting the extent to which market fishing was carried on 

 Avithin its borders. Assisted by the boats of the United States 

 Fish Commission and of the Marine Biological Laborator}^, the 

 Commissioners have visited all the fish traps, and while they have 

 found the number to be large (115), they have found them con- 

 trolled by an exceptionally intelligent class of men, well informed 

 respecting the movements of marketable fish. The equipment 

 and maintenance of these appliances represents the investment of 

 considerable capital and the employment of a large number of 

 men. A large proportion of the fish captured are consumed be- 

 yond the limits of the State, and the list of cities (section II) to 

 which shipments are directly made indicates very clearlj'^ the repu- 

 tation which the State must enjoy as a fisheries centre. It is un- 



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