Reighard. — A Plea for Record Preservation 109 



long. It is possible that such a curve represents condi- 

 tions favorable or unfavorable according to its form, but 

 at present ^nq have no data from which to determine 

 whether this is true or not. 



It seems to me important that data such as are 

 included in the table here shown be accumulated. By 

 means of them we should learn much of the conditions 

 under which our various fishes live. In addition to the 

 data included in our table there might be added others 

 on parasites, on breeding habits and breeding seasons, 

 conditions of the sexual glands, character of bottom and 

 of vegetation at the point where fish are taken, and pos- 

 sibly on the temperature of the water. A table of the 

 form here indicated is shown below. It is suggested that 

 a data blank of suitable form with instructions for its 

 use be prepared and distributed to members of this so- 

 ciety. This might be done by the United States Bureau 

 of Fisheries and the blanks, properly filled, might be re- 

 turned to the Bureau. In this way information about 

 the conditions under which fish live would be gradually 

 accumulated at Washington. Whenever the observer 

 was uncertain as to a species of fish or the character of 

 stomach contents, the specimens might be forwarded for 

 identification. A study of the accumulated data would 

 certainly add much to our wholly inadequate knowledge 

 of the natural history of our fishes. 



FORM SUGGESTED FOR USE IN RECORDING DATA CONCERNING FISH 



E-S 



1. Each fish should be given a serial number and the data concerning 

 it entered in the appropriate columns opposite its number. 



