REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XIII 
particular, and observations were made upon the physical character- 
istics of the waters and upon the natural history of the oyster, its 
enemies and associates. It is proposed to continue the investigations 
in the same field during the summer of 1889. 
During the winter of 1888-89 extensive operations were conducted in 
the Gulf of Mexico by the schooner Grampus and the steamer Fish 
Raich. The former vessel was detailed to examine the southern part 
of the important red- snapper fishing- ground which occupies the sub- 
merged continental platform off the west coast of Florida. The in- 
shore or shallow- water part of this ground is now visited to a greater 
or less extent by fishermen, and the work of the Grampus was re- 
stricted to depths between 15 and 50 fathoms, in Avhich the conditions 
and resources of the bottom were comparatively unknown. Notwith- 
standing the fact that much stormy weather was encountered, impor- 
tant results were obtained and the attention of the fishermen has been 
called to the advantages offered by this region for the prosecution of 
their industry. In addition to the fishing carried on, the dredge was 
used at frequent and regular intervals to determine the composition 
of the bottom and the characteristic animals which live upon it. In 
conjunction with the Grampus Dr. James A. Henshall made an exam- 
ination of the adjacent coast of Florida from Biscayne Bay to Tampa, 
during which he obtained a very large collection of fishes and secured 
much information regarding the abundance, distribution, and habits 
of the more important species. 
The principal work done by the Fish Raiclc in the Gulf of Mexico had 
reference to the breeding habits of the mullet, sheepshead, and sque- 
teague in Charlotte Harbor and vicinity, on the west coast of Florida, 
and the measures necessary to be taken for the artificial propagation 
of those species. Spawn of the two species last mentioned was ob- 
tained and hatched successfully, but when the Fish Raich reached this 
locality it proved to be too late for the spawning of the mullet, although 
the young were observed in great numbers and their habits were, to 
some extent, determined. 
An essentially novel feature of the scientific work, introduced dur- 
ing the past year, has been the systematic investigation of interior 
waters, with respect both to their physical and natural-history charac- 
teristics. This subject was taken up with the object of obtaining more 
accurate and extensive information in that direction, as a basis for fish- 
cultural operations and the distribution of useful fishes,* for, until the 
conditions and principal features of any stream or lake have been deter- 
mined it is impossible to say whether they require attention, and, if so, 
what measures should be taken to multiply their resources or perfect 
the quality of the latter. With respect to this subject, it is necessary 
to ascertain not only what kinds of fishes inhabit each fresli-water sys- 
tem, but also the abundance and distribution of the lower forms of life 
serving them as food and those physical conditions which, regulating 
their habits, determine what new species maybe adajited to the region. 
