PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1921. 



11 



scarcity or entire absence of a number of species which it was hoped 

 could be obtained and studied. 



The same investigators completed during the year a valuable report 

 on the life histories of fishes of the family Sciaenidse of the Atlantic 

 and Gulf coasts. The family includes some of the most important 

 food fishes, the annual catch on these coasts approximating $3,000,000 

 in value. No less than 37| per cent of the fish landed at the municipal 

 fish wharf, Washington, I). C, in 1919 were of this family; the prin- 

 cipal species were the squeteague, or weakfish, often erroneously called 

 sea trout, the highly esteemed king whiting, the red drum, or channel 

 bass, the croaker, spot, and silver perch. 



How can we act intelligently with reference to the exploitation of 

 such resources or determine wisely how to preserve them for all time 

 if we do not know the life histories of the fishes, when and where they 

 breed, their migrations in summer and in winter, the rate of growth, 

 and the food they require ? The present report not only brings to- 

 gether the fragmentary data hitherto available but adds materially 

 to existing knowledge by embodying the results of years of researches, 

 particularly those of the senior author, whose death unfortunately 

 preceded the final completion of the paper. 



The report also serves the valuable purpose of making evident the 

 gaps in existing knowledge, revealing the need of additional observa- 

 tions, and showing plainly the directions which further studies should 

 follow. As similar work is done for other families of fishes we shall 

 come nearer to realizing the practical value of applying science to the 

 study of fishes. 



Mr. Welsh also completed descriptions of seven new species of ma- 

 rine fishes (Malacopterygii) taken during the explorations of the 

 United States Coast and Geodetic Survey steamer Bache^ conducted in 

 1914 under the direction of the United States Bureau of Fisheries. 

 The fish were taken at various stations in the vicinities, respectively, 

 of Cape Hatteras, the Bermudas, and Bahama Islands. After Mr. 

 Welsh's death the descriptions were prepared for publication by 

 C. M. Breder. The report has been accepted for publication by the 

 United States National Museum. 



Both assistants have been lost to the Bureau during the year, the 

 one by untimely death, the other by resignation. 



FRESH-WATER FISHES. 

 WHITEFISHES OF THE GREAT LAKES. 



There is scarcely a sadder feature of the history of American 

 fisheries than the progressive depletion of the important resources of 

 the Great Lakes, notably in respect to the whitefishes. We may 

 have overestimated the possibilities of exploitation, we may have 

 been shortsighted in the fishery policies we pursued, or we may not 

 have propagated them with proper energy or efficiency. But the 

 simple fact is that no one has had enough knowledge of the distribu- 

 tion, habits, and requirements of whitefishes to give proper advice. 

 The best intentions can not save a situation when founded upon igno- 

 rance. If the whitefish fisheries of the Great Lakes are to be pre- 

 served to the future or perhaps restored in part to their earlier rank, 

 we must study the fishes and ascertain the condition of their existence. 



