\ 
x 
36 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. | 
WOODS HOLE LABORATORY. 
‘The Woods Hole laboratory was opened as usual for biological 
researches on July 1, 1892, but several of the workers arrived and 
were given the necessary facilities for carrying on their studies during 
June. The laboratory was in charge of Dr. James L. Kellogg, of Johns 
Hopkins University, and the Commissioner was also present during 
most of the season, giving personal direction to such parts of the 
investigations as were undertaken for the Fish Commission. The total 
number of investigators in attendance, not including the regular em- 
ployés of the Commission, was fourteen; of these, two were engaged 
in the study of special subjects for the benefit of the Commission. 
The work carried on by each may be summarized as follows: 
Dr. James L. Kellogg was occupied mainly with the study of the 
spawning and early habits of the common scallop er pecten (Pecten 
irradians), the younger stages of which were found attached in great 
abundance to ulva in the Acushnet River, near New Bedford, Mass. 
The breeding season of this species occurs during May and June in 
this region, and is probably of shorter duration than in the case of 
many other important food mollusks. During June the young were 
observed to present very slight variation as to size, and during the 
two succeeding months the growth was not rapid. The attachment to 
ulva was by means of a well-developed byssus, the occurrence of which 
’ in. the first stages of growth has been recognized for some time. The 
byssus-forming gland, which.was carefully studied, was found to remain 
functional until the latter part of August, when it became atrophied, 
and in the adults all traces of it have disappeared. Late in August 
the shell in many instances reaches a diameter of two-thirds of an 
inch, but considerable differences then exist with respect to size. The 
method of byssus attachment was determined in both the young pecten 
and the black mussel, and it was made out that in each of those species 
the byssus could be thrown off at will, the animal crawling about by 
means of its foot and reattaching. A vestigial organ, probably a non- 
functional byssus organ, was discovered in the young of Yoldia, another 
form of Lamellibranch. 
The practical bearing of the results of Dr. Kellogg’s observations 
relate to the artificial propagation or transplanting of the scallop, 
which, during its attached stage, could be transported conveniently in 
immense numbers with slight danger of loss. Moreover, if reared in 
confinement, a suitable collector could readily be provided for the 
attachment of the young, thereby obviating the difficulties attending 
the handling of large quantities of fry in a free condition. Studies 
were also conducted by Dr. Kellogg relative to the morphology and 
physiology of several bivalve mollusks. 
Prof. Francis H. Herrick, of Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, con- 
tinued his observations, begun in 1890, on the development and the 
life-history of the lobster. As previously announced, Professor Herrick 
is preparing for the Fish Commission a comprehensive report upon the 
| 
| 
