REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 131 
The following accounts of some of the investigations here carried 
on are extracted from Dr. Wilson’s report: 
Mr. Coker and Mr. Tarrentine, who during June had made a study 
of the food of certain edible fish, spent the greater part of July in 
studying the life-history of a small nonedible fish, one of the blennies 
very common about wharf piles, where sheepshead feed. The eggs 
of this fish are deposited in layers, adhering to old barnacle shells, 
ascidians, or rocks. The eggs were hatched in the laboratory. The 
striking characteristics of egg; old embryo, and just-hateched larva 
were worked out in sufficient detail to permit recognition of these 
stages wherever met. The notes on this investigation, together with 
those on the food study, will be handed in as soon as certain figures are 
completed. Mr. Coker spent the remaining part of the summer in 
studying the life-history of a small goose barnacle parasitic on the 
gills of two edible crabs, the blue crab and stone crab. About 70 per 
cent of the blue crabs are infested. The parasite is sometimes so 
abundant in individual crabs as to fill the gill chamber, the number 
running up toabout 1,000. Certain simple experiments indicate that 
the parasite unquestionably weakens the crab. "he systematic points 
of the form were carefully worked out. The form differs from previ- 
ously described species of this interesting genus, and must be recorded 
as a new species. 
Dr. Grave devoted most of his time to his economic investigation 
of the conditions favorable to oyster-culture. Constant watch was 
kept upon an experimental oyster bed, which included many small 
areas planted at different times from April to August, 1900, inclusive, 
on some of which steamed shells were scattered broadcast; on others 
similar shells were laid down in rows; on still others, steamed and 
fresh shells were hung on wires. The catch of spat was abundant on 
all areas, there being no difference between steamed and fresh shells, 
‘contrary to the opinion and practice of local oystermen; but where 
shells were planted in rows there is a much better catch of spat than 
where they are scattered broadcast. In this locality the breeding 
season of the oyster extends from March to December, inclusive. 
The spat deposited on the bed has grown well. Many of the oysters 
on June 1, 1901, measured about 25 inches in length, others only 1 to 
13 inches; larger oysters, 3 inches long, were occasionally taken. 
Dr. Grave also continued his investigations upon the feeding of 
oysters, both on natural beds and beds composed of planted adults, 
and upon the physieal factors affecting the growth of oysters. His 
study of the influence of shore line, bottom, and current on the shape 
taken by natural beds, an account of which has already been pub- 
lished in the Johns Hopkins University Cireular (April, 1901) bears 
upon the shape and direction which should be given to planted beds 
in the North Carolina sounds. 
During the summer Dr. Grave collected material and data for a 
proposed report upon the Beaufort echinoderms from the systematic 
