INTRODUCTION. 



Washington, D. C, June 29, 1898. 

 On May 6, 1897, the United States Fish Commission received a com- 

 munication from Hon. Adolph Meyer, M. 0., inclosing the following- 

 concurrent resolution of the legislature of Louisiana : 



Be it resolved by the house of representatives of the State of Louisiana, and the senate 

 concurring, That the United States Fish Commission he requested to investigate 

 in the oyster-spawning season and report to this general assembly before its next 

 session the exact season of the oyster spawning in this State and all other fact6 

 respecting the same, and whether or not the present existing laws are not injurious 

 to the oyster industry of this State. 



S. P. Henry, 

 Speaker of the Souse of Representatives. 

 R. H. Snyder, 

 Lieutenant-Governor and President of the Senate. 

 Murphy J. Foster, 

 Governor of the State of Louisiana. 

 John T. Michel, 



Secretary of State. 



Pursuant to this request, and in view of the importance of the Louisi- 

 ana oyster industry, it was decided to undertake an investigation of 

 the subject, and Dr. H. F. Moore, of this Commission, was directed to 

 visit Louisiana in August and September, 1897, for the purpose of 

 making some preliminary inquiries, and the steamer Fish Hawk, Lieut. 

 Franklin Swift, U. S. N., commanding, was dispatched to the State in 

 February, 1898, to conduct a more extensive examination of certain 

 oyster-grounds. The accompanying report, based on the investigations 

 thus made, has been prepared by Dr. Moore, who accompanied the ves- 

 sel and was charged with the consideration of the biological aspects of 

 the work. It was the intention of Lieutenant Swift to write the report 

 on the reconnaissance made by the Fish Hawk, but before he could do 

 so he was detached from the Commission and assigned to naval duty. 



George M. Bowers, 

 TJ. 8. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 



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