REPORT 



To the Honor aJ>le the General Assemhly of the State of Rhode 

 Island and Providence Plantations, its Jamiary Session, 1899: 



The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries herewith present their 

 annual rei3ort for the year 1898 : 



The appropriation, which was made by your honorable body, has 

 enabled the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries to arrange their 

 affairs in a much more satisfactory manner than heretofore, and 

 to accomplish far more for the fishery industries of the State than 

 during- any previous year. 



The problems undertaken by the Commission have been as fol- 

 lows: 



First. The stocking of our ponds and streams with suitable 

 fresh-water fish, through the distribution of eggs and fry. 



Second. The collection of definite data respecting the times of 

 arrival and departure of various food fish, and the prejaaration of 

 statistics of exportation. 



Third. The determination of the breeding periods of native 

 marine animals. 



Fourth. The location of fish traps and other appliances for the 

 capture of fish. 



Fifth. The physical and biological examination of the waters 

 of the bay, and the i^reparation of a record of the present physical 

 and biological conditions. 



Sixth. The investigation of the plague which destroyed multi- 

 tudes of fish and Crustacea during the fall of 1898. 



Seventh. The continuation of the observations begun in 1897 

 on the life-habits of the stai-fish. 



