12 REPORT OF commissi(»np:k ok fish and fisheries. 



hurdl}^ substantiated by reliable data, and the extermination of the herds 

 met with opposition in many (|uartei-s. Tiie Commission was linally 

 asked l»y the California authorities to make an inAestio-jition of the 

 food and feeding habits of the sea lions with a view to determinino- 

 the point at issue. This was accordin<>ly undertaken ])y an au'ent of 

 this odiee, assisted b}- a representative from both the Califoi-nia board 

 of tish eommissioners and the California Academy of Scienees, and 

 was carried on during July and August. As thorough an in([uiry as 

 practicable w^as made, from which it appears that the sea lions did not 

 do much damage except at the mouth of the Columbia River, but 

 further study of some aspects of the case will be necessary before 

 a definite conclusion can be reached. 



At the request of oyster-growers of Tuckerton, N. J., a representa- 

 tive of the Commission was detailed to investigate the destruction of 

 oyster beds in that vicinity by drum-fish. These fish feed on the seed 

 oysters, which are the thin-shelled eastern forms, and cause enormous 

 losses, many extensive beds being practically depleted. . In one case, 

 where some 20,000 bushels of oysters had been planted, an examina- 

 tion showed that over 80 per cent had been destroj^ed. Various expe- 

 dients have been tried or suggested without nuich success, and it would 

 seem that it will be necessary to use heavy -shelled oysters, which arc 

 strong enough to resist the drum-fish, for seed, rather than th(> tiiin- 

 shelled ones. The former, however, at this particular locality do 

 not attain so satisfactory a growth. 



The biological surve}^ of the Great Lakes has been continued, the 

 woi'k still being confined to Lake Erie with head(iuarters at the station 

 of th(> Conmiission at Put-in Ba3\ Special attention was given to the 

 white-fish, wall-eyed pike, carp, and sturgeon 



The investigations of the fisheries of the Territory of Hawaii, called 

 for by act of Congress, were partially completed during th(^ summer 

 of li*ol, most of the islands being visited, the fishery methods and 

 laws studied, a statistical canvass made, and a large and int(>resting 

 collection of lishes obtained. A preliminary report was made to the 

 President in July, 190:2, and l)y him suhmitted to Congress. As 

 stilted elsewhere, the investigation of the deeper waters around tlie 

 islands is now being continued by means of the steamer Alhafross. 



Among other investigations may l)c lucntioiuHl the continuation of 

 the l)iological study of the quinnat salmon in Califoi'iiia, a further 

 in(|uiry as to the results of introducing new species into certain lakes 

 in Idaho and ('(ah. an imiuiiy into the geographical distribution of 

 trout and sidmon in the waters of Maine, and biological investigations 

 of certain waters of New York and New Jersey. 



The subject of th(^ diseases of fislies luis received considerable atten- 

 tioji, the time of one assistant bcdng (Mitirely dcAotinl thereto. Mor- 

 tiilitv from causes little und(M-stood in the (Tovermnent hatcheries and 



