SUMMARY OF THE SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF THE FISH COMMISSION 
EXPEDITION TO PORTO RICO. 
By BARTON WARREN EVERMANN, Ph. D., 
Naturalist in charge of the expedition. 
The expedition of the United States Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawk to Porto 
Rico in the winter of 1898-99 had for its primary object a general study of the 
aquatic resources of that island. The fishes and fisheries naturally received most 
attention, but every opportunity was embraced to make extensive collections in all 
other groups of aquatic animals. A considerable collection of algse was also made. 
As stated in the preface to this Bulletin, these collections were assigned, for study 
and report, to specialists in the various groups. Seventeen reports have been received 
from those who kindly undertook the critical study of the collections assigned them. 
These reports wei'e each first published as separate pamphlets, and all are now 
brought together in the two volumes constituting the Bulletin of the Fish Commis- 
sion for 1900. 
Owing to conditions lying without the control of the Commission, no reports have 
been received from the specialists to whom the few remaining groups were assigned. 
The Fish Hawk arrived in the harbor of San Juan, Porto Rico, on the morning 
of January 2, 1899, and the investigations were begun by the naturalists on the after- 
noon of that day. From San Juan the vessel cruised entirely around the island, 
making stops of one to several days each at Aguadilla, Mayaguez, Puerto Real de Cabo 
Rojo, Ponce, Arixwo, Hucares, Fajardo, Isabel Segunda on Vieques Island, and at 
Ensenada Honda, Culebra Island. Two trips were made to St. Thomas for coal. 
With these places as centers of operation, work was done by the vessel and by shore 
parties at various places in the vicinity of each. Expeditions were made by shore 
parties to Arecibo, Bayamon, Caguas, Yauco, Aibonito, and El Yunque. 
Returning to San Juan February 21, the investigations were brought to a close, 
and at noon of the next day the Fish Ilawk sailed for Key West. 
The number of days spent about the island was therefore fifty-two, but the 
actual number of days during which investigations could be carried on was only about 
thirty-eight. When the brief time devoted to the investigations is considered, the 
results are highly satisfactory, as is shown by the summary here given. 
The results have been published in 20 different articles or special reports, cover- 
ing a total of nearly 1,000 pages, with 51 colored plates, 75 other plates, 195 text 
figures, and 3 maps. 
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