REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 91 



more novel of Dr. Peck's inquiries. In the report upon the results of 

 his work this season he explains, as follows, the purpose and general 

 plan of his observations on the fundamental food elements contained in 

 the coastal waters :* 



In order to contribute toward a knowledge of the quality, quantity, life-history, 

 and conditions of environment of this primary food supply, consisting of Protozoa, 

 Protopliyta, free-swimming larvte, and tlie like, many observations were made 

 during the earlier part of the summer of 1894 with respect to the surface water in the 

 larger harbor at Woods Hole, where collections of the organisms were systematically 

 obtained from measured quantities of the water at diflerent times of the day and 

 tide, and under diii'erent conditions of temperature. Likewise, by means of the 

 steamer Fish Haivk, which was provided with suitable apparatus for the purpose, I 

 was enabled to collect many samples from the waters of Buzzards Bay, not only at 

 the surface, but also at mid-depth and at the bottom. A definite section was laid out 

 across the bay and another running longitudinally through the same body of water 

 some distance out to sea. These lines of section were divided into equal intervals 

 with definite stations established, in order that a rigid system of representative 

 localities might be followed, by a study of which a knowledge of the bay as a whole 

 might be increased. 



After describing briefly the variety, nature, and habits of the micro- 

 scopic plants and animals occurring under these conditions, Dr. Peck 

 proceeds to discuss the details of his investigation, which consisted 

 chiefly in determining quantitatively the relations of the more promi- 

 nent groups of these pelagic organisms at diflerent levels and at difler- 

 ent times of the tide and day along the two sections in Buzzards Bay 

 above referred to. At the several stations at the time of each observa- 

 tion samples were taken from the surface, mid-depth, and bottom — from 

 the two latter by means of hose operated by the vessel's pump, which 

 permitted of the rapid collecting of any quantity desired under the 

 most favorable conditions. The solid organic contents of each of these 

 samples, which measured 5 liters apiece, was isolated by filtration 

 through a bed of fine-washed sand resting on a screen at the lower end 

 of the stem of a large glass funnel. The examinations under the 

 microscope were made in a graduated cell prepared especially for the 

 purpose, which insured the same amount of material being contained 

 in each sample. 



The object of these investigations, of which the work accomplished 

 during the season of 1894 is to be considered only as the initiatory step 

 in what it is hoped will be a long-continued series, is to determine the 

 quantity of available "pasturage" or primitive food-supply in any given 

 region, under the varying conditions of seasons, temperature, salinity, 

 etc., as establishing the relative value of its waters for originating, so 

 to speak, and for maintaining a stock of fishery products. Both Mr. 

 Conant and Mr. Harrington rendered assistance to Dr. Peck in connec- 

 tion with his inquiries. 



Dr. Herrick continued his researches on the American lobster, and, 

 before the close of the year, had nearly completed the important mono- 



*The Sources of Marine Food, bv .Tames I. Peck, assistant professor of biology in 

 Williams College. Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., xv, for 1895, pp. 351-368, plates 64-71. 



