12 REPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



pine government and was exhibited at St. Louis for the purpose of 

 calling attention to the rich tish fauna and the great number of useful 

 fishes found in Philippine waters. A recently completed study of the 

 collection, soon to be published, shows it to number more than 2,500 

 specimens and represent 296 species, of which 22 species and 2 genera 

 prove to be new. Many of the species are or can become important 

 food fishes. 



Neiv England waters. —In continuance of a general plan for physical 

 and biological survey of the freshwater streams and lakes of the United 

 States, attention was given in 1906 to Umbagog Lake, of the Rangeley 

 chain. The physical conditions of the lake and the animal and plant 

 life were studied, especially in their bearing upon the abundance and 

 variety of the fish fauna. 



The East Branch of the Penobscot River was visited in the fall and 

 examined with reference to its importance as a spawning stream for 

 salmon. It was found that although spawning beds formerl}^ existed 

 between Medway and jNIatagamon Lake, apparently no salmon resort 

 there now. 



OYSTER EXPERIMENTS. 



Lynnhaven Bay. — The eifort to. establish as commercially feasible 

 the method of fattening oysters which has been under experiment by 

 the Bureau for several years resulted in an output in 1906 of 125 

 barrels of oysters of the highest grade, the value of which, increased 

 by the process, was slightly more than enough to cover the cost of the 

 work. The expenses involved are to a considerable extent fixed, 

 whether the product be great or small, and in the case of the claire at 

 Lynnhaven a production of twice or thrice the number of bushels fat- 

 tened would but slightlv increase the cost, leaving out of consideration 

 the original value of the poor oysters. If the productiveness of the 

 Lynnhaven claire can be doubled, as it is hoped will be shown during 

 the coming year, the possible commercial profits should be very satis- 

 factory, in view of the area involved; and when it is considered that 

 the method of artificial fattening is designed for use in regions where 

 oysters in many seasons do not fatten at all, it is believed that its per- 

 fection will mark an important step in oyster culture. 



As the field is an entirely new one and many difiiculties have had to 

 be overcome, and as an entire season's operations are necessar}^ to 

 demonstrate the eflects of any changes in the conditions, the develop- 

 ment of the method has been slow. Two problems now confront the 

 experimenter — the destruction, without injuring the oyster food, of 

 low vegetable forms which find favorable conditions of life in the fer- 

 tilized water, and the utilization of a greater" proportion of the food 

 contents of the claire than is now possible. Plans for attaining these 

 ends, the last important difiiculties to be overcome, will be put into 

 effect during the ensuing season. 



