222 The American Naturalist [August, 
SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
The work of the Michigan Fish Commission in 1894. 
—After a careful study of various points along the coast, Charlevoix 
has finally been decided upon as the location for the work of this year. 
It lies on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan just north of Grand 
Traverse Bay, within easy reach of numerous white fish spawning and 
fishing grounds. Extensive fishing operations are carried on here 
throughout the year, and varied conditions of shore and bottom are to 
be found within easy reach. Opposite this point Lake Michigan 
reaches a depth of 850 feet, and shallow water with reefs and islands 
are not far distant. Numerous inland lakes of varying size are also 
readily accessible and the variety of conditions is unsurpassed by any 
point on this shore. In addition to this the Commission has already 
at Charlevoix a hatchery which will furnish extensive aquaria for 
keeping specimens alive and for experimental work. A carpenter 
shop next door to the hatchery building has been rented for the sum- 
mer and fitted out as a laboratory, with tables, shelves, reagents and 
the necessary apparatus. The University of Michigan co-operates 
with the undertaking as in former years, and has renewed its loan of 
apparatus and of a special library. Several boats, including a small 
steamer and all kinds of nets for shallow and deep water work and for 
bottom and surface collecting, are at the service of the party. 
The work will include a determination of the fauna and flora of Lake 
Michigan at this point and of their vertical and horizontal distribu- 
tion. This determination will be both qualitative and quantitative, 
and will be particularly directed towards a study of the life history of 
the white fish and lake trout. Since the life of the water constitutes, 
first or last, the food of the fish in it, this determination will afford 
some idea of the value of this locality asa breeding ground for fish 
and of its adaptability as a planting ground for the fry. The temper- 
ature, transparency and purity of the water and the character of shore 
and bottom, as well as the currents and connecting Jakes will receive 
attention as problems which affect most powerfully the welfare of the 
fish. 
The party at work in the laboratory will consist of Professor Henry 
B. Ward, University of Nebraska, Director; Professor E. A. Birge, 
University of Wisconsin ; Professor C. Dwight Marsh, Ripon College, 
Wisconsin; Dr. Charles A. Kofoid, University of Michigan; Dr. 
Robert H. Walcott, University of Michigan ; Mr. Herbert S. Jen- 
nings, University of Michigan; Mr. Bryant Walker, Detroit, Michi- 
