120 KEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



During the summer of 1903 thirteen person.s at the laboratory 

 cari-ied on special lines of investigation, which are summarized below: 



Tlie early development of au ascidian ( Cynthia sp. ) was investigated by Prof. W. K. 

 Brooks, of Johns Hopkins University, during two weeks in September, in order to 

 compare certain structural characters of the eggs and larvre and certain features in 

 the development with corresponding stages in t^alpx. 



The study of Phoronis architecta, begun by Mr. R. P. Cowles, of Johns Hopkins 

 University, two years ago, was completed, and the study of the development of a 

 species of Ascarus parasitic in the toadfish, also a research on the cell lineage of 

 Axiotheca murosa, a species of annelid found in the vicinity of Beaufort, were taken up. 



Studies of peculiar crelenterate larvse, which present divergences from other larval 

 coelenterates already described, were conducted by Mr. L. R. Gary, of Johns Hop- 

 kins University. The specimens were taken in the tow nets, and from the small 

 actinians developed from them it appears that the species is Paractis rapiformis. 



The effect of X-rays on the development of the chick was studied by Mr. P. K. 

 Gilman, with results that are expected to exert influence on certain lines of surgery. 



Living eggs of Fasciolaria tulipa and the method of ingestion by the few fertile 

 eggs of the large number in the same capsule which never undergo development 

 were subjects of investigation by Dr. O. C. Glaser, of Johns Hopkins University. 



Studies on the breeding habits of the pipefish were continued by Mr. E. W. 

 Gudger, of Johns Hopkins University, the method by whicli the female transfers 

 her eggs to the brood pouch of the male being especially observed. Material was 

 preserved to serve as a basis for a study of the embryology of the species. 



About 275 species of insects occurring in the vicinity of Beaufort were collected by 

 Mr. Franklin Sherman, jr., and notes were made relating to the habits, comparative 

 abundance, and other matters concerning 32 species. Special attention was paid to 

 species of economic importance, viz., the harlequin, cabbage bug, chinch bug, cotton 

 louse, cabbage louse, spotted melon beetle, striped melon beetle, spotted belidnota, 

 herbivorous lady beetle, pine weevil, potato beetle, tortoise beetles (3 species), horse- 

 flies (3 species), apple-tree tent-caterpillar, bean-leaf beetle, house fly, large corn- 

 stalk borer, corn-hill beetle, and blister beetle. 



Collections I'epresenting 30 species of Hydromeduste were made by Mr. Samuel 

 Rittenhouse, of Johns Hopkins University, who also preserved material for work on 

 the development of Turritopsis. 



The plankton of the harbor was studied by Dr. Adolf Reichard, and material was 

 collected for a research on the development of Appendicularia. 



The collection of annelids at the laboratory was rearranged, labeled, and studied 

 by Mr. Clarence A. Shore, of Johns Hopkins University, who also made additional 

 collections whenever the tides and weather pennitte(l, obtaining several hitherto 

 unrepresented species and bringing the total number up to 52. 



The algse of the region were studied by Mr. W. D. Hoyt, of the University of 

 Georgia, 54 species being collected. Notes on the structure, habitat, and reproduc- 

 tion characteristics of each were filed in the laboratory catalogue. 



Fishes of the vicinity of Beaufort were collected by Mr. George T. Bean, a number 

 of species obtained whose occurrence was before unknown bringing the list up to 119. 

 Records of the food, breeding habits, and economic importance were preserved. 



The study of a destructive parasite of the oyster, a trematode of the genus Gaste- 

 rostomum, was continued by Dr. D. H. Tennent, of Johns Hopkins University, who 

 has traced the complete life history of this worm. The adult form lives in the 

 alimentary canal of several species of Beaufort fishes. 



