REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. at 
Reference was made in my previous report to the visit of Dr. Bash- 
ford Dean to Europe for the purpose of studying the methods there 
followed in oyster-culture. The results of Dr. Dean’s investigations 
were issued in December, 1892, and July, 1893, being published in the 
Bulletins of the Commission for the years 1890 and 1891, and will 
undoubtedly prove of great aid to those oystermen of this country who 
are Seeking to improve the industry. 
The subject of acclimatizing the eastern oyster on the Pacific coast 
has received attention, and investigations of the physical conditions of 
certain areas have been made. Favorable conditions appear to exist 
in Willapa Bay, Washington, and it is proposed to make plantings 
there from a number of localities on the Atlantic coast as soon as a 
favorable opportunity may arise. 
Reference is made to the report of Mr. Rathbun for a résumé by Pro- 
fessor Libbey of the physical inquiries conducted by him during several 
preceding seasons off the southern New England and Middle States 
coast. These inquiries were discontinued during the season of 1892, 
and the schooner Grampus was used to make a search for the tilefish 
in those localities where it had previously been found. A few speci- 
mens only were received. The inquiry, however, establishes the fact 
of the continuity of the belt of warm waters on the Gulf Stream slope, 
so as to permit the northward summer migration of the species. We 
have therefore reason to expect that the tilefish will reoceupy its old 
grounds in undiminished numbers and that a valuable market fishery 
will be established should the fish be found acceptable to consumers. 
At the laboratory of the Commission at Woods Hole studies of 
marine life were prosecuted as in previous years. The spawning and 
early habits of the common scallop or pecten were investigated by Dr. 
James L. Kellogg; Prof. Francis H. Herrick continued his observations 
on the development and life-history of the lobster; Prof. H. V. Wilson 
on the development of certain sponges; Dr. William Patten on the 
sense-organs in the horseshoe crab. The other inquiries conducted 
will be found noted in Mr. Rathbun’s report. 
Extensive investigations were made of the shores and inlets of Buz- 
zards Bay and Vineyard Sound for the purpose of studying the habits 
and life-history, in the younger stages, of the common food-fishes of 
the locality, and much important information concerning the breeding 
and other habits of the menhaden was secured. 
The interior waters examined during the year embraced the Columbia 
River and some of its tributaries, in Washington, Idaho, and Montana; 
the rivers and lakes of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, 
Nebraska, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and California. These 
investigations were for the purpose of studying the physical character- 
istics of these waters and also to ascertain the various forms of animal 
and plant life inhabiting the same. Such inquiries are especially val- 
uable as a guide in the work of the Commission of stocking our waters 
with suitable food-fishes. 
