REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CXIX 



REPORT ON THE INQUIRY RESPECTING FOOD-FISHES AND 

 THE FISHING-GROUNDS. 



By Hugh M. Smith, Aaaistant in Charge. 



In the accompanying outline of the work of this division during- the 

 fiscal year 1899 there are considered (1) the investigations which have 

 been undertaken in the lakes and streams with reference to the abun- 

 dance, distribution, habits, etc., of the fishes and other animals; (2) a 

 number of miscellaneous investigations in the waters of the Atlantic 

 coast, including Puerto Kico; (3) special studies of important economic 

 fishes; (4) the researches at the marine biological laboratories of the 

 Commission, and (o) various minor inquiries and duties. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF THE INTERIOR WATERS. 

 BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF LAKE ERIE. 



For a number of years past the Fish Commission has appreciated the 

 importance of a systematic biological and physical investigation of the 

 Great Lakes, in conjunction with the extensive fish-cultural operations 

 which are there carried on by the Government and States and with 

 canvasses of commercial fisheries by the Commission. It has been 

 evident that the conditions affecting the supply of food-fishes could not 

 be thoroughly understood and the institution of proper measures for 

 maintaining the supply could not be brought about without a knowl- 

 €^lge of the mutual relations of all the organisms directly or indirectly 

 associated with the fishes, but more especially the minute animals aud 

 plants known to have a pronounced influence on the abundance and 

 distribution of fishes. 



As a i)reliminary step in the thorough exploitation of the Great 

 Lakes in the interests of the fisheries and fish-culture, the Commission, 

 in July, 1898, began a biological survey of Lake Erie. Headquarters 

 were established at the Fish Commission station at Put-in Bay, Ohio, 

 on South Bass Island, which is conveniently located in a part of the 

 lake where commercial fishing is very extensive and where the artificial 

 propagation of white-fish, wall-eyed pike, and lake herring is prosecuted 

 on a large scale. Prof. Jacob Eeighard, of the University of Michigan, 

 was placed in immediate charge of the work, and the following i^ersons 

 were associated with him during the summer and fall : Prof. H. B. Ward, 

 University of Nebraska ; Dr. H. S. Jennings, Dartmouth College ; Dr. 

 Julia Snow, University of Michigan; Mr. A.J. Pieters, U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture ; Dr. W. C. Kendall and Mr. M. C. Marsh, U. S. Fish 



