128 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
steamer Mish Hawk and the schooner Grampus were attached to the 
station during most of tae summer; the former made a number of 
dredging expeditions to the neighboring waters, and the latter made 
a successful trip to the off-lying tile-fish grounds. The steam yacht 
Phalarope, which had been purchased for this station in the previous 
year, proved of great assistance, and the steam launches blue Wing, 
Cygnet, and Merganser were in general use. 
The laboratory assistants were Prof. R. W. Tower, Mr. George H. 
Sherwood, Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, Mr. L. B. Walton, Mr. David Rob- 
inson, and Mr. H. A. Green. 
The library, which had been greatly improved during the previous 
summer, was in constant use for reading and reference. The librarian 
of Brown University courteously loaned to the Commission a number 
of scientific periodicals and standard books of much usefulness to the 
laboratory workers. Biologists in all parts of the world have sent 
copies of their papers to the library. The accessions during 1900 
numbered about 500. 
Among those who conducted work in the special interest of the 
Commission the following may be mentioned: 
Prof. C. H. Eigenmann made a study of the early life of the sque- 
teague, one of the most abundant and important of the summer food- 
fishes of southern New England. Tisinquiries were addressed to the 
spawning time and grounds; the movements, habits, and food of the 
young; the rate of growth of the young, and the changes in their form 
and color incident to growth. 
Prof. R. W. Tower carried on certain physical and physiological 
investigations regarding the air-bladder of fishes, and the chemical 
nature of chitin, the basis of the shells of lobsters, crabs, and other 
crustaceans. 
Prof. Edwin Linton continued and completed his studies of the 
internal parasites of the fishes of the region. 
Prof. W. M. Wheeler, who in the previous season had studied the 
free-swimming copepods of the adjacent waters, continued his con- 
sideration of this group, and began a systematic study of the pelagic 
copepods of the east coast. A large amount of material, which the 
Commission had for years been accumulating, was placed in Professor 
W heeler’s hands. 
Prof. S. J. Holmes began the preparation of a descriptive list of the 
amphipods of the region. 
Mr. George H. Sherwood experimented with new methods of rearing 
lobster fry, and, together with Mr. V. N. Edwards, made observations 
on the phenomena of fish migration and its relation to the physical 
and meteorological conditions. 
Prof. J. L. Kellogg continued his experiments in clam-culture begun 
in the previous year. 
A biological subject of more than ordinary interest to scientists and 
the general public is the reproduction of eels. During the summer of 
