114 KEPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



season, earl}' in July, and certain other portions of the fish-cultural 

 plant which were also at the service of investigators. Earl}" 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 Fish Ilawh and Plialarojye^ 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 year 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 man}^ 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 carrj^ on special investigations. 



Staf\ — 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 laborator}'^ 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 weeklv 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 jiora. — 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 



