26 REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. 



172 fish of various species bearing an artificial infection of glochidia 

 of the Lake Pepin mucket (Lam.psilis luteola). Seventy-nine of the 

 fish were retained in good condition beyond the period of 14 days 

 regarded as necessary for the completion of the stage of parasitism. 

 In all, 11,199 living young Lake Pepin muckets were taken from the 

 pen on September 23 (besides 502 mdividuals removed on previous 

 dates). Tliis represented an average yield of a little over 80 living 

 mussels per square foot in addition to a few of other species re- 

 sulting from natural infection. This experiment is of much signifi- 

 cance as bearing upon the success of the artificial propagation of 

 the Lake Pepin mucket. 



Miscellaneous studies of shell^sh. — While it has not been feasible 

 to continue actively the investigations of the blue crab which have 

 been so successfully prosecuted m the fiscal years immediately pre- 

 ceding, the Bureaii has completed reports Sealing with the blue- 

 crab fishery of the Chesapeake Bay and with the life history of the 

 blue crab. These reports, which w^ere in process of publication at 

 the close of the fiscal year, will undoubtedly be of material value to 

 State authorities concerned with the protection of the crab and the 

 preservation of the fishery in imdiminished force. It has been grati- 

 fying to learn that a greatly increased catch of blue crabs in these 

 waters has ensued, in consequence, as it is believed, of wise protec- 

 tive measures based in great part upon the results of the Bureau's 

 investigations. 



At the Key West, Fla., biological station, inquiries into the habits 

 and growth of the spiny lobster have been continued, and upon the 

 basis of useful information furnished to the State authorities of 

 Florida, more effective protective measures have been enacted into 

 law. 



Through the cordial cooperation of the United States National 

 Museum, the Scripps Institution for Research at La Jolla, Calif., 

 and the California Fish and Game Commission the Bureau was 

 enabled, at scant cost, to conduct investigations into the life history 

 of the spiny lobster of the southern coast of California. Results of 

 substantial interest were obtained. 



The Bureau also continued, durmg a portion of the fiscal year, its 

 examination into the shellfish resources of the northwest coast. 



AIDING PRODUCTION AND PREVENTING WASTE. 



In view of the shortage of food supply which has confronted the 

 country, the Bureau deemed no service more important than that 

 which could be rendered to combat conditions responsible for losses 

 of preserved fish or wastage due to a lack of coordination of supply 

 and demand, in addition to preventing waste of surplus catches of 

 fish and bringing new species of fish into the market. Some of these 

 problems could best be attacked by methods of scientific uaquiry, 

 such as the investigation of the preparation of fish by methods of de- 

 hydration and the study of methods of preventing the deleterious red- 

 dening of salt codfish. In some instances the situation seemed to de- 

 mand not investigation, but action, and m such cases the scientific per- 

 sonnel of the Bureau was ready and effective for the performance of 

 any service that the situation" seemed to reo[uire. Consequently, it 

 is proper in connection with the report of scientific investigations to 



