EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



11 



Statement of free tr(mxj>ort(dionfnri}i^}ied by certain rnU.roads — Continued. 



Name of railroad. 



Norfolk and Western Rwy 



Northern Pacific Rwy 



Orison R. R. and Navigation Co .. 



Orrm'on Slujrt Line R. R 



Rennsylvania R. R. Sy.stem 



Pennsylvania Lines, west of Pitts- 

 burg 



Pcre Marqnette R. R 



Plant System 



Queen and Crescent Route 



Rio (jrande Southern R. R 



Rio Grande Western R wy 



Rutland R. R 



St. Louis and San Francisco R. R.. 



St. Louis Southwestern Rwy 



San Antonio and Aransas Pass 

 Rwy 



Cars. 



754 

 2,419 



434 



608 



.'S22 



592 



4,225 



911 

 i,'643 



Messen- 

 gers. 



521 

 663 

 714 



1,507 

 825 



1,005 



1,509 



633 



Name of railroad. 



Seaboard Air Line Rwy 



Southern Rwy 



Southern Indiana Rwy 



Southern Paeitic Co 



Texas and Pacific Rwv 



Texas Central R. R . . ." 



Union Paeilie R. R 



United Verde and Pacilic Rwy... 



Vandalia Line 



Virginia-Carolina Rwy 



Wabash R. R 



Washington and Columbia River 



Rwy 



Washington County R. R 



Total 



1,690 

 616 

 121 



450 



.52 



Messen- 

 gers. 



809 

 74 

 1,025 

 2,344 

 100 

 118 

 26 



1,607 

 '264 



68, 940 



BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES. 



The experiments which have been carried on for several j'ears at 

 Lynnhaven, Va., to perfect a method by which oysters can be fattened 

 and improved in flavor and food value are meeting with encouraging"' 

 success. Means have been found to supply proper food in sufficient 

 quantit}^ and in a sj'stematic manner, and it is believed in another 

 season it can be demonstrated that oysters can be fattened foi market 

 by simple economical means. This will make the industry far more 

 profitable than the present method of allowing- the oysters to grow 

 under natural conditions, which is always uncertain and often will not 

 give the best results. 



Successful results are hoped for from the experimental work carried 

 on in Florida in raising sponges from cuttings. It is desired to dis- 

 cover methods which will be available for the practical sponge-grower 

 and which will permit the cultivation of sponges S3'stematically and 

 assure the grower of regular marketable crops. As Florida can now 

 supply only al)out half the demand of this country, and as the natural 

 sponge-grounds are rapidl}' becoming depleted, the undertaking is 

 watched with interest by prominent dealers. 



A systematic investigation of the carp in the Great Lakes, where 

 this species is verv abundant, was undei'taken on account of the dis- 

 favor in which it is held l\y many persons. Attention was g'iven to 

 the food and feeding of the carp, its relation to other fishes, and its 

 food and market value. Jt is probable that the prejudice against this 

 fish comes from a misapprehension and may ])e removed with a fuller 

 knowledge of the facts. Much information on the subject has been 

 ol)tained, and the inquiries will be continued another season. 



The supposed destruction of fish and apparatus by sea lions has 

 caused apprehension to the fishery interests of the Pacific coast, and in 

 some localities systematic efi'orts have been made to kill off the herds. 

 A diversit}' of opinion has existed as to the advisa])ility of this course, 

 for while the fishermen claim that great damage was done, this was 



