CXLII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the natural food of the menhaden, the schools of which form veritable 

 living skimming-nets often a mile in breadth. This investigation indi- 

 cates that it is perfectly justifiable to ascribe the rapid increase in the 

 number of star-fish to the extensive capture of their natural enemies at 

 a time when the latter are known to be feeding on young star-fish. Dr. 

 Mead's very interesting report on this subject, which is printed in the 

 annual report of the Ehode Island Commission for 1898, will appear in 

 somewhat modified form in the Bulletin of the Commission for 1899. 



In the fall of 1898 the waters of Narragansett Bay suddenly became 

 a deep red color and emitted a very offensive odor. The fish were killed, 

 even the hardy eels sought the shores, and dead shrimp were washed 

 ashore in windrows. The cause of the " blood water " was entirely 

 unknown, and Dr. Mead was engaged to investigate the matter. A 

 species of the infusoriau Peridinium was found to be the cause of the 

 phenomenon. The Commission was advised that the trouble probably 

 would be only temporary ; and manufacturers, who were accustomed to 

 pour waste dye materials into the bay and who were at first accused 

 of causing the trouble, were exonerated. 



Some very practical observations on the causes of decay in fish and 

 the methods of arresting decay without the use of ice were made by 

 Prof. E. W. Tower, the fish- trap providing the material necessary for 

 the experiments. The work was undertaken by Professor Tower as the 

 representative of the Phode Island Fish Commission. It was shown 

 conclusively that fish jjroperly handled will keep absolutely fresh for 24 

 hours, even under the most trying climatic conditions, without the use 

 of ice. In view of the large sums of money spent by the commercial 

 fishermen for ice, the increased express charges on fish thus packed, 

 and the unsatisfactory results of its use as ordinarily applied, these 

 investigations have great importance. 



The several trips of the Grampus in 1898, which resulted in the finding 

 of the tile-fish in abundance off" the southern New England coast, are 

 referred to elsewhere in this report. These expeditious, however, may 

 properly be regarded as a part of the operations of the laboratory, the 

 vessel sailing from Woods Hole and being attended by a corps of 

 laboratory investigators. 



BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA. 

 In conjunction with the fresh-water fish-cultural operations to be 

 carried on at its new station at Edenton, N. C, on Albemarle Sound, 

 the Commission contemplates the artificial propagation of the important 

 salt-water fishes which spawn in the coastal waters of North Carolina 

 and the other South Atlantic States. An essential preliminary to this 

 work is the study of the habits, abundance, and distribution of the 

 food-fishes, and also the determination of the non-economic fishes and 

 other animals which are related to the food-fishes as food, enemies, etc. 

 After consultation Avith Prof. J. A. Holmes, of the North Carolina 

 Geological and Natural History Survey, Dr. H. V. Wilson, professor of 

 biology in the State University, and other persons interested in the 



