an REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
There can be no doubt that artificial production would succeed in American 
waters. The question is the practical one, whether it would, on an extended scale, 
be less costly than the price of natural seed. This can only be determined by experi- 
ments in a favorable locality. * * * The phase of European oyster-culture that 
has as yet no equivalent with us at home is that of the extreme value of land at 
particular points. * * * The general need in the United States for areain which 
to extend oyster-culture can hardly be regarded as immediate. At points, however, 
where local cultural conditions are exceedingly favorable to rapid growth or fatten- 
ing, it would seem a practical measure to bring into cultivation extended shore 
strips near the zone of low-water mark by use of tidal parks of the least costly type. 
x * * ~ ~ * * 
In those countries alone where government has absolutely preserved supplies of 
spawning oysters does seed-culture flourish. The permanent closure of a small 
natural oyster-bearing area has apparently done what has not been done by a close 
season of the ““R”-less months. * * * That the absolute reservation of oyster- 
bearing land will have an immediate and important influence upon the production 
of seed in neighboring areas is a proposition which European experience seems to 
demonstrate; and the writer would suggest, as in his former report, that the matter 
of reservation seems far more pertinent to the needs of the American industry than 
any attempts at artificial production. ~ ~* * Reservation is clearly a gov- 
ernmental duty, whether State or local. Tbe matter is not a new one, and the 
condensed experience of Europe merely emphasizes what, with various modifications 
as to tenure, time, and degree, the authorities on this subject in the United States 
have already advised. 
PHYSICAL INQUIRIES. 
OFF COAST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND THE MIDDLE STATES. 
As it was found impossible to continue during the summer of 1892 the 
elaborate series of observations carried on during the previous three 
years respecting the temperature and other physical observations off 
the southern coast of New England, it was decided to have the schooner 
Grampus make a thorough search for the tilefish in the localities where 
it had abounded before the astonishing mortality in 1882, which seemed 
to have effected its extermination. Predicting its return upon the 
results of the physical inquiries recently conducted, it was confidently 
expected that at least a few specimens would be captured, and such 
proved to be the case. During the several trips made between the 
region off Marthas Vineyard and the latitude of the Delaware capes, 
8 specimens were secured by means of cod trawls, some of them of very 
fair size. The investigations of 1892, as well as those of the previous 
three years, were in charge of Prof. William Libbey, jr., of Princeton 
College, the Commissioner of Fisheries also taking an active part in 
the work and accompanying the Grampus in its earlier trips. 
The following notice of the results accomplished during the past 
three years has been prepared by Professor Libbey: 
During the summers of 1890 and 1891 work was continued in the same area of water 
off the southern New England coast as in 1889, the same limitations, east and west, — 
and north and south, being observed, except that in 1890 the lines run by the Coast 
Survey steamer Blake extended 20 miles farther out to sea than usual, or a total 
distance of 150 miles. 
