42 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 
to each other, so as to form clumps, like mussels. Photograph 
life-size. 
24. These specimens represent the average (smaller) size of 
clams taken from the shore in the Kickemuit River on December 
4. They are about six months old. Photograph life-size. 
25. These specimens represent the average (larger) size of 
clams taken from the shore in the Kickemuit River on December 
4. They are about six months old. Photograph life-size. Com- 
pare with those taken at Wickford, on shore, at the same date. 
10. ConrTINUED WorkK ON THE OFF-SHORE FISHERIES. 
In the last report attention was called to the existence of valu- 
able fishing-grounds lying but a short distance from our coast, 
and inhabited by apparently large numbers of valuable food-fish. 
At that time the trawls had been set in thirteen different locali- 
ties between the meridian of 69° and 71° of W. longitude, between 
parallels of 40° and 40° 20’ N. latitude, and in water ranging from 
70 to 80 fathoms in depth. Although this work was carried on by 
the U.S. government, the fact that the tile-fish bank hes immedi- 
ately to the south of Rhode Island renders its exploration of 
especial interest to the fishermen of the State. Durmg the past 
summer the Grampus made three excursious to the Gulf Stream 
for the purpose of determining the northern and western limits of 
the area inhabited by the fish. Three of your commissioners ac- 
companied the vessel on one of these expeditions. As a result of 
the work of 1899 the western limit of the “bank” was carried 
some miles to the westward of the meridian of 72°, south to the 
parallel of 39° 47’, and the fish were followed into shallow water 
of only 55 fathoms depth. At our very doors is this wealth of 
fish which rival the halibut in quality. 
11. Errorts at LopsTER-CULTURE. 
The predictions that have been so often made in regard to the 
disastrous results that must follow the unrestricted capture of 
