REPORT ON INQUIRY RESPECTING FOOD-FISHES AND THE 



FISHING GROUNDS. 



By Barton W. Evermann, Assistant in Charr/r. 



OUTIilNE OF THE WORK. 



A large part of the work of this division during the fiscal year 1904 

 consisted in the continuation of investigations already begun with ref- 

 erence to the biology and culture of various animals of economic 

 importance, including principally the oyster, the commercial sponges, 

 the blue crab, and the diamond-back terrapin; studies of the fresh- 

 water fishes of Maine and of the biology of the small lakes of northern 

 Indiana were also continued. Several new inquiries were instituted, 

 those of especial importance being an investigation of the Alaska 

 salmon fisheries, a biological survey of the coast of California in the 

 vicinit}^ of San Diego and in Monterey Bay, and experiments in the 

 culture of the green turtle. Various fresh-water lakes in western 

 Washington and the waters of the Gila River basin in Arizona were 

 examined with reference to their physical characteristics and the possi- 

 bilities of fish culture. The investigations dealing with the diseases 

 of fishes were pursued with reference to a number of special phases, 

 as well as those already studied. 



THE OYSTER. 



Exjp&i'hnents in oyster fattening at Lynnhaiien^ Ya. — For a number 

 of years, as may be seen ^yy reference to preceding reports, the Bureau 

 has been engaged in an endeavor to develop a practical method of 

 fattening o3^sters. It is the custom of many growers to transplant 

 their oysters, shortly before putting them on the market, to beds 

 where the natural supply of food is luxuriant and oj^sters rapidly 

 fatten. In many localities such favorable places are few or entirely 

 lacking, and the oysterman is compelled to put inferior stock upon the 

 market and thus forfeit the full measure of profit. 



The experiments which have been carried on by the Bureau under 

 the direction of Dr. H. F. Moore and in the immediate charge of 

 Col. W. W. Blackford, of Lynnhaven, Va., are intended to develop 



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F. C. 1904 6 



