XXXIV EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEKIES. 



proteiu iu fish aud other animal and vegetable foods was also calcu- 

 lated. 



Mr. John A. Eyder followed with a paper "On the Forces which de- 

 termine the survival of fish embryos." He enunciated the principle 

 that just in proportion as the individuals of a Bi)ecies are prolific in 

 respect to the number of their germs, just in that proportion do the 

 chances of survival of the individual germs seem to be diminished, aud 

 vice versa, and that this natural fecundity, or the want of it, is depend- 

 ent upon the amount of i)i"otection received by the eggs in the course 

 of development. On Thursday, May 15, the first paper was read by 

 Mr. Eichard Kathbun, entitled "Notes on the Decrease of Lobsters." 

 Mr. Kathbun urged a thorough investigation of all points bearing upon 

 the natural liistory of the species, upon the changes which have oc- 

 curred in the fishery' grounds, aud upon the relations of the total catch 

 for each section to the number of fishermen aud traps, and the average 

 size of the lobster taken. Mr. S. G. Worth then read a paper on "The 

 Propagation of the Striped Bass." This was followed by a paper on 

 the "Eesult of the Introduction of Gill-nets into the American Cod 

 Fisheries" by Capt. J. W. Collins. It was his opinion that a very 

 important step had been attained through the efforts of the U. S. 

 Fish Commission in perfecting the method of cod gill-netting, which 

 had been in use in American waters about five years. At 11 a. m. the 

 members of the association went to the White House, and were intro- 

 duced to President Arthur. At noon a meeting of the State fish com- 

 missioners convened in the office of the assistant director of the Na- 

 tional Museum. The cultivation of oysters and shad ^^as discussed, 

 aud the advice and assistance of the U. S. Fish Commissioner sought 

 on various matters p>ertaiuing to the fisheries. 



At 1 p. m. the members of the association proceeded to the Lower 

 Cedar Point whari', where they embarked on board the Fish Hawk, 

 which had been tendered by the Commission for a trip to one of the 

 shad stations on the Potomac. During the trip a meeting was held in 

 the interest of oyster cultivation. The name of the association was 

 also changed to "The American Fisheries Society," and twenty-one for- 

 eign gentlemen were elected corresi)ondiug members of the society. 



11. — PUBLICATIONS IN 1884. 



Reports. — The report for 1881 (Vol. IX) was nearly all in type at the 

 beginning of the year. The composition was completed April 1, and 

 the edition of bound volumes received for distribution in June. 



The report for 1882 (Vol. X) was taken iu hand early in the present 

 year and pushed forward so vigorously that on the 24th of July it was 

 all in type, and by the last of October the bound volumes were ready for 

 distribution. A small pamphlet edition of the report projier was printed 

 and distributed iu conformity with previous practice. 



