NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 163 



opposition allayed by being shown that they would have more regular and remunerative 

 employment on planted grounds than if they worked on the natural grounds. 



Mr. John Y. Detwiler, of New Smyrna, Fla., read a paper on " Experimental 

 oyster-culture." 



A recess was then taken until 3 p. m. 



At the opening of the afternoon session a paper entitled " The Florida commercial 

 sponges: their nature, protection, and cultivation," was read by Dr. Hugh M. Smith 

 and discussed by Professor Smeltz and the author. 



The committee on resolutions reported the following, which were adopted by a 



rising vote : 



Resolved, That the National Fishery Congress acknowledges the call of his excellency W. D. 

 Bloxham for the existence of this Congress, as well as the inception of the idea to Col. T. T. Wright, 

 and hereby gives an expression of appreciation and grateful thanks to Mr. H. B. Plant, not only for 

 his general interest in the purpose of this Congress, but for his liberal hospitality in furnishing the use 

 of the hall for the Congress, the excursion by train and steamer; and in thus manifesting our 

 appreciation we also gratefully acknowledge the courtesy of his honor M. E. Gillett, mayor of 

 Tampa, as also of Mr. H. Cunningham, the efficient secretary of the Board of Trade of Tampa, for 

 their cordial greeting; be it further 



Resolved, That we extend our thanks to Lieut. Franklin Swift for the pleasant trip on the United 

 States Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawk; be it still further 



Resolved, That the secretary of the Congress furnish a copy of these resolutions to those above 

 mentioned. 



The question of publishing the proceedings of the Congress being under 

 consideration, the following resolution was passed, and pursuant thereto Dr. H. M. 

 Smith and Mr. W. E. Meehan were selected by the chair to constitute, with himself, 

 the committee on publication : 



Resolved, That the president of this Congress appoint two persons, who, with himself, shall 

 constitute a committee on publication, with powers to arrange for the editing, printing, and 

 distribution of the papers here presented. 



Col. F. C. Zacharie, of New Orleans, presented his paper on " The oyster industry 

 of Louisiana," which was discussed by Mr. Blackford and Colonel Zacharie. 



Dr. S. E. Meek, of Chicago, read a paper entitled "The utility of a biological 

 station on the Florida coast in its relation to the commercial fisheries." 



Dr. H. C. Bumpus brought up a topic which had been referred to in the paper of 

 Professor Smeltz read on January 21, namely, the alternating sexuality of the oyster. 

 He asked the author to state the basis for his remark that the sex of the common 

 Eastern oyster changes from season to season, and requested an outline of the 

 experiments on which the statement was founded. Professor Smeltz said he had had 

 about 400 oysters under observation, and about 2 per cent of them apparently exhibited 

 the condition stated. Dr. Bumpus, Dr. Moore, and Mr. Blackford referred to the 

 great liability of error in the experiments and observations, and thought Professor 

 Smeltz should not make a positive statement until crucial tests had been applied. 



Owing to the fixing of an earlier date for final adjournment than had been 

 anticipated, a number of papers could not be read. These were read by title by the 

 secretary, who outlined their scope. 



