EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 11 



of Lake Maxinkuckee, Indiana. Investigations were also made at 

 Lake Driimmond and in other fresh waters of southern Virginia and 

 North Carolina. 



INVESTIGATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



By direction of the President and in pursuance of a plan that has 

 been under consideration for some years, the Bureau has begun a 

 comprehensive survey of the fisheries and aquatic resources of the 

 Philippine Islands. The steamer Albatross was detailed for this 

 work, and in October, 1907, left San Francisco with a special staff 

 of assistants under the general direction of the Deputy Commissioner. 

 Manila was reached in November, and from that time until the close 

 of the fiscal year the vessel was engaged in explorations among the 

 islands, and shore parties visited many fishing communities. Large 

 collections of the rich marine fauna of the archipelago have been 

 obtained ; much important information has been gathered relative to 

 the methods of fishing and the lines along which improvements may 

 be made; and the investigation gives promise of great benefit to the 

 islands. It is expected that the survey will continue for another year. 



MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES. 



The laboratories of the Bureau at Woods Hole, Mass., and Beau- 

 fort, N. C, have been open and occupied as usual during the sum- 

 mer months. The season at Woods Hole was largely given to the 

 collation of results of the biological survey of adjacent waters which 

 has been in progress for the past several years, and it is hoped that 

 the report will be ready for publication during the ensuing year. A 

 large number of investigators from different institutions occupied 

 tables at the laboratory and were engaged in researches, some of which 

 promise valuable economic results. The steamer Fish Hawk was 

 as usual detailed to the service of this laboratory. At Beaufort the 

 usual number of investigators were accommodated and conducted 

 studies upon the habits of fishes, experiments in raising sponges from 

 eggs, and in clam and oyster culture. In view of the growing demand 

 for clams and their increasing scarcity on our coasts, the experiments 

 in clam culture are particularly important. 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. 



At the request of the Census Bureau, under direction of which a 

 general canvass of the fisheries is to be made for 1908, most of the 

 usual statistical work of the Bureau of Fisheries was suspended 

 this year, and the division which gives attention to the commercial 

 fisheries devoted the greater part of the time to the collection of data 

 descriptive of apparatus and methods of fishing throughout the 

 country, with a view to the compilation of a complete report upon 

 this subject. 



In 1908, as in the two previous years, the Bureau detailed a repre- 

 sentative to note the operations of American fishing vessels in New- 

 foundland waters, and to report as to the observance of the modus 

 Vivendi. This detail was made at the request of the Department of 

 State, and extended from September to January. 



