REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 123 
Loaf Key, about 25 miles east of Key West, and at several places in 
Biscayne Bay. Several thousand sponge cuttings were planted at 
these places under a variety of environmental conditions and accord- 
ing to a number of different methods. The chief problem confront- 
ing the experimenter in this field is to find some ready means of 
attaching the cuttings to a durable support, capable of resisting the 
action of salt water and the ravages of the teredo and animals having 
similar destructive habits, and which, at the same time, will not have 
an injurious effect upon the growing sponge. The cuttings live and 
their cut surfaces heal without difficulty. About six weeks after the 
plants were made they were examined, and, under favorable condi- 
tions, it was found that about 95 per cent of the sheepswool cuttings 
were alive, healed, and apparently healthy. In several cases, where 
the plants were made in places exposed to very strong currents, many 
of the pieces were torn loose from their supports, while others had 
been killed by rough action of the currents. The cuttings from yellow 
sponges suffered a much greater mortality than those made from the 
sheepswool sponge, but whether this be due to the more delicate nature 
of the animal or to the accidental conditions under which they were 
planted is not yet determined. So far as has been determined the 
more valuable sheepswool sponge seems to be possessed of greater 
hardiness than its cogener. The experiments will be continued and 
extended during the coming season, and will have for their primary 
object the development of a practical method of sponge-rearing. 
In the account of the operations of the steamer Fish Hawk will be 
found a reference to the work done by that vessel in beginning a 
survey of the sponge-grounds of Florida. Asa preliminary to rational 
legislation for the improvement of the sponge industry, a knowledge 
of the extent of the grounds, their exact location, their present and 
past productivity, and the distribution of the commercial sponges in 
the different sections is indispensable. It is proposed to continue 
this work of the vessel, in conjunction with the sponge-planting 
experiments. 
FISHES AND FISHERIES OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
The act of Congress approved April 30, 1900, providing a govern- 
ment for the Territory of Hawaii, contained the following provision 
(section 94): 
That the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries of the United States is empowered 
and required to examine into the entire subject of fisheries and the laws relating 
to the fishing rights in the Territory of Hawaii, and report to the President 
touching the same, and to recommend such changes in said laws as he shall see fit. 
Early in the spring of 1901 the Commission made plans for such an 
inquiry as was contemplated by this act. It was decided to make the 
investigations comprehensive and thorough, so that the fishes and 
fisheries of this group of islands might be as fully understood as 
possible in both the biological and commercial aspects. The investi- 
