REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXIII 



various streams other species of mussels than those now sought are 

 known to exist, and these will probably be resorted to in the future. 

 The industry has attained such proportions in the way of capital 

 invested and labor employed that its destruction would be a calamity 

 in many communities. It would seem very desirable, therefore, that 

 the States interested enact legislation forbidding the gathering of small 

 mussels, i)roviding for a close season during spawning time, and pre- 

 venting damage to the beds by sewage and factory refuse. 



The experiments in fattening oysters have been continued at Lynn- 

 haven Eiver with interesting results. As it was found after a year's 

 trial that oysters which had been planted in an inclosed pool did not 

 fatten and were inferior to those growing on beds in the open rivers, an 

 attempt was made to increase artificially the fertility of the water. 

 The effort was encouraging, and it is believed that a continuation of 

 the experiments will result in valuable improvements in oyster-culture. 



An investigation, referred to elsewhere, of the waters of Narragan- 

 sett Bay, was made with the steamer Fish Haick in October and Novem- 

 ber, 1898, to study the distribution of star-fish in that body of water. 

 It was found that this enemy of the oyster multiplies with great rapidity 

 in certain localities, and from these breeding-grounds the young are 

 distributed to the oyster-beds. It appears that these nurseries might 

 be destroyed at small expense and that the oyster-grounds are probably 

 free from invasion from beyond the limits of the bay. Supplemental to 

 this work, observations were made of the general biological conditions 

 prevailing in the bay and in Block Island Sound. 



The study of salmon in the Sacramento Kiver has been continued in 

 a systematic manner, all i)ortious of the river and the lakes at its source 

 having been visited, seining stations established at regular intervals, 

 and traps built. Thus the stream was kept under close observation 

 and many facts ascertained regarding the natural history of salmon in 

 this river. A full report on this work is being prepared and will soon 

 be ready for publication. 



An investigation has been •undertaken looking to a better under- 

 standing of the natural history of the herring, particularly as to their 

 migrations and spawning habits, a thorough knowledge of which is 

 important from the value of the herring fisheries on the Maine coast. 



Minor investigations have been made in the Wabash basin, in the 

 San Pedro River, Arizona, and in the District of Columbia, together 

 with interesting studies of the shad and mackerel. 



A noteworthy event was the rediscovery of the tile-fish in consider- 

 able quantities and the definite location of its range. Since its appar- 

 ent extinction in 1882, it has only been taken occasionally, but as the 

 result of systematic cruising by the Grmnpus, in the summer of 1898, 

 on the edge of the continental plateau south of southern New England 

 and Long Island the fish was found in abundance and evidently breed- 

 ing. As its range is close to the markets of the Atlantic coast it is not 

 unlikely that a new marine fishery may yet be developed. 



