4 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 
Ninth. An investigation of the life-habits of the clam, its breed- 
ing period, its food, its rate of growth, its natural enemies, and ex- 
periments to test the feasibility of artificial propagation. 
Tenth. Continued work on the off-shore fisheries. 
Eleventh. Efforts at lobster culture. 
Twelfth. Distribution of lobster fry. 
Thirteenth. The preparation of a list of the fishes known to in- 
habit the bay. 
Fourteenth. <A list of the diatoms found in the water over the 
clam, mussel, and oyster beds. | 
These subjects are treated in the above order in the present re- 
port, and in view of the results thus far obtained the Commission 
does not hesitate to ask for asmall naphtha launch, and a new float- 
ing laboratory, both of which are absolutely essential to the effi- 
cient prosecution of their work. 
A great deal of time has been lost during the past year in row- 
ing or sailing about, often against head winds and currents; and 
since the greater amount of shore work must be done during the 
few hours of low tide, it is necessary to have the means of moving 
rapidly from place to place. It is the plan of the Commission to 
purchase a launch of such size that it can be easily cared for by 
one man, thus making the appointment of extra help unnecessary. 
Such a boat can be purchased for about $900, and the expense at- 
tending its maintenance will be inconsiderable. The work of the 
Commission has for some years been carried on in the small float- 
ing laboratory originally designed for hatching lobsters, and lo- 
cated in the Kickemuit River. On this structure, which is really 
little more than a fish-car, there has been scant room for one 
worker, no means of providing heat during the cold weather, and 
the floats have been so poorly constructed that not infrequently 
the whole boat, laboratory and equipment, has sunk. In the 
spring of 1899 it was important that the Commission should have 
more room for its work, and it seemed desirable to extend the bi- 
