114 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
season, early imJuly, and certain other portions of the fish-cultural 
plant which were also at the service of investigators. arly in the 
summer important improvements were made in the plumbing of the 
main laboratory, and some others have been authorized which will be 
completed before the opening of another season. 
The steamers sh Hawk and Phalarope, the launch Blue Wing, and 
two smaller launches were available during the whole or part of the 
season; also a catboat and an abundance of rowboats. 
Fish pounds were set this vear in Buzzards Bay at points not far 
from the station. A daily record was kept of the species taken, 
together with a rough estimate of the number of each. Such records, 
which have been kept for many years past, furnish valuable data con- 
cerning the annual migration of fishes. (The pounds also constitute one 
of the important sources of supply for the materials of investigation. 
One floor of the large residence building was, as usual, at the service 
of those employed by the Bureau to carry on special investigations. 
Staff.—The staff of the laboratory during the season comprised a 
director, a librarian, a secretary, five salaried investigators, working 
upon special problems of interest to the fisheries, an assistant in charge 
of the supply room, an assistant in charge of the fish pounds, and nine 
assistants employed in miscellaneous work in the laboratory and in 
the field. To the above list must be added a collector, who is per- 
manently attached to the station, and the crews of the various vessels 
while these are in the service of the laboratory. 
Collecting trips.—Leaving out of account the daily visits to the 
pound nets, about 40 collecting trips were made by the smaller steam 
craft to various localities in the vicinity, and 15 dredging trips by the 
Fish Hawk, whose operations were confined almost exclusively to 
Vineyard Sound. Mention should also be made of the work of two 
assistants in camp at Menemsha Bight, Marthas Vineyard, where they 
were engaged for four days in noting the fish taken in the numerous 
traps at that point, and of a journey to Provincetown in quest of data 
relating to the food of the dog-fish. The collection and preservation 
of fishes, fish parasites, and other material of biological interest was 
continued as usual. 
Seminar.—A seminar, or research club, was established early in the 
season, and thereafter met weekly until near the close of the summer. 
It was thought that cooperation might be profitable in certain lines of 
research, and in general it seemed desirable that there should be some 
recognized medium through which the investigators might profit by 
the results of each other’s work. The experiment proved entirely 
successful, and the meetings were well attended. 
Catalogue of local fauna and flora.—The completion of a catalogue 
of the fauna and flora of the region as far as known was commenced 
by the director in cooperation with several others. The work as 
