LXXX REPORT OF COMMISSIONED OF FISH AND FISHERIES 
with changes in the surface and atmospheric conditions which may be 
kept constantly under observation? 
Plans were proposed sometime ago for running lines of observing 
stations across the mackerel region off the New England coast, with 
the object of obtaining several vertical sections to show the distribution 
of the bands of temperature, but owing to the press of other work they 
had to be indefinitely postponed. The subject was again brought up 
in the autumn of 1888 by Commissioner McDonald, who, after determin- 
ing upon the character of results desired, referred the matter to Prof. 
William Libbey, jr., of Princeton College, to elaborate the details, the 
latter also having expressed his willingness to direct the investigations 
during the summer of 1889. The schooner Grampus was selected for 
making the experiments, and was thoroughly equipped for that purpose. 
It is intended that the work shall be carried on during the months of 
July and August. 
During April and May, 1889, a series of density observations was 
carried through Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore southward, by Dr. C. 
F. Hodge, of Johns Hopkins University, with the view of obtaining 
data for comparison with the observations previously made on the 
oyster-grounds of Providence Eiver and Long Island Sound. This 
work was incidental to a natural-history cruise conducted by students 
of the university. 
Demands are frequently made upon the Commission for copies of the 
unpublished records of ocean temperature by persons interested in the 
study of climatology and of the health of seacoast towns, indicating 
that the value of those observations is not confined to fishery matters. 
All such requests have been complied with. 
Acknowledgments are due to the Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army, 
for the testing, gratuitously, of the delicate thermometers used in con- 
nection with the marine investigations. 
THE WOOD’S HOLL STATION. 
This station is one of the largest and most important of the Fish 
Commission, and is adapted to the needs both of scientific investiga- 
tions and of fish-culture. Its location is excellent for both of those 
branches, being in the center of extensive marine fishing-grounds, whose 
threatened depletion first attracted the attention of Prof. Baird, and 
lying adjacent to the pathway of such well-known pelagic species as 
the mackerel, bluefish, and menhaden. The causes which led to the 
establishment of the station have been recorded in previous reports, as 
have also the incidents connected with its construction and equipment. 
During its first summer, that of 1871, the Fish Commission made its 
headquarters in this quiet little village, while its members found occupa- 
tion in studying the surrounding fisheries whose unfavorable condition 
had occasioned much alarm. The results of that fishery investigation, 
