56 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
must have a member in this committee. And I suppose, for instance, England 
has great interests in the Mediterranean, and without doubt England will be 
entitled to take a part in this enterprise. 
Our thought is to promote the exploration of the Mediterranean in the 
interest of the fisheries. Then it is clear that the fisheries interests may be the 
main influence that may be regarded in these explorations. 
I hope that Mr. Fryer now fully understands. 
[The motion before the congress was carried, and the communication of 
Professor Vinciguerra was referred to the committee on resolutions. ] 
The PRESIDENT. I have been requested to read the following communication 
from those who have in charge the luncheon that is to be served to-day by the 
Alaskan Packers’ Association, as a compliment to the congress. [Communica- 
tion read.] 
Now, one other matter: There are still some who, because of their interest 
in the programme as rendered in this room, have forgotten to register, and you 
are again asked to kindly register and become organically connected with 
the congress. 
Then there are some who have signified their intention, by handing in their 
names, to attend the subscription banquet this evening, and who have not yet 
received the cards of admission. It would be too bad if any member of the 
congress should come to the Hotel Raleigh this evening, after having prepared 
himself for the banquet, and find that although he had on a “wedding 
garment,’ nevertheless ‘‘he could not enter in.” [Laughter.] 
Is there other incidental matter to come up before .we proceed with the 
reading of papers? ‘There are a few of these [indicating] badges here for those 
members who care for them. 
Doctor Field, will you kindly give an abstract—the substance—of the paper 
submitted by H. C. Rowe? Mr. H. C. Rowe is at the head of one of the largest 
oyster concerns in America, and he entertains the members of the congress on 
our arrival in Fall River on Tuesday morning next. One of Mr. Rowe’s steamers 
(he has a large fleet of these steamers, of course) will meet us there at 8 o’clock 
on Tuesday morning and will take us to one of the large oyster beds, and that 
steamer will then show the method of steam dredging and oyster culture that 
is carried on in Narragansett Bay, a method which is used throughout Long 
Island Sound and in the extensive beds still farther south. Doctor Field is 
quite well acquainted with this work in Narragansett Bay. The paper is 
rather long, and Doctor Field will give it to us in abstract. 
Dr. GEORGE W. Fre_p. We must all regret the absence of Mr. Rowe, who 
would be able to present this to you in a better shape than I can. 
[The paper by Mr. H. C. Rowe was then presented in abstract; the full 
paper appears on pages 259-267.] 
The PRESIDENT. There is some probability that the various committees on 
award will be prepared to make their reports in time to be read at the conclusion 
