208 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Without even mentioning the numerous purely scientific problems of deep interest 

 to the embryologist which could be studied under most favorable conditions at such a 

 station, I wish to call attention to a few of the many investigations which are sure to 

 prove of great economic importance and which can be conducted here to the best 

 advantage. I may mention the following: 



1. The spawning habits of the numerous food-fishes of the coast and the possibility 

 of their artificial propagation. 



li. The food of the various species of fishes. 



3. The life-histories of the manatee, alligator, crocodile, and the several species of 

 turtles, and the development of methods for increasing their commercial value. 



4. Experimentation regarding the artificial cultivation of the commercial sponges. 

 There is not a marine species of Florida fish whose life history is fully known. 



We are ignorant of the habits of even the most common and important species. Take 

 even such an important fish as the pompano; we know absolutely nothing of the time, 

 place, and manner of spawning, the habits or food of the young, and the possibility of 

 propagating the species artificially; and we are quite as ignorant concerning the 

 bluefish, red drum, spotted sea trout, sheepshead, red snapper, and all of the numerous 

 other snappers, groupers, grunts, and porgies. It is not at all unreasonable to suppose 

 that a study of these species would show that many of them can be cultivated 

 artificially, and the time will doubtless come, and all too soon, when artificial propaga- 

 tion will have to be resorted to to save some of these fishes from practical extinction. 

 It is the part of wisdom to develop the methods requisite for conserving the fisheries 

 and have them perfected and ready for use before any serious diminution begins. 



No study has ever been made of the food of any of these food-fishes or the many 

 others which swarm in Floridian waters. Except in the most general way we know 

 nothing of the interrelations existing among these various species, and the conditions 

 favorable or unfavorable to the well-being of the useful species. 



The life-history of the manatee has never been critically studied, and we have 

 doubtless underestimated the importance of its preservation. The same is true of 

 the alligator, crocodile, porpoise, and the several species of turtles found on the 

 Florida roast, all of which are animals of commercial value and of unusual interest to 

 the naturalist. 



The discovery and perfecting of methods by which the various commercial sponges 

 of Florida may be cultivated artificially furnish a field for investigation which \\ill 

 prove fascinating in the highest degree and will doubtless yield results of the greatest 

 economic importance. 



I'.adi and every one of the lines of investigation indicated is important and 

 worthy of serious attention. Some of them have already been too long neglected. 

 These problems are legitimate fields of investigation. 



The establishment of a station for biological research at some point on the coast 

 of Florida is abundantly justified upon both scientific and economic grounds, and 

 should receive the early and serious attention of the General Government and the 

 Commonwealth of Florida. 



WASHINGTON, D. 0. 



