GENERAL REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS IN PORTO RICO. 
5 
lections in Porto Rico and the outlying islands. The results have been published 
and add materially to our knowledge of Porto Rican botany . 1 
But little has been published concerning the mammals of Porto Rico. Besides 
the papers by Gundlach and Stahl already mentioned, two short papers 2 have recently 
been published by Mr. Clerrit S. Miller, j r. , of the U. S. National Museum, giving 
descriptions of two new species of Porto Rican bats. 
Concerning the food-fishes of the island absolutely nothing was known except 
by inference, and nothing was on record regarding the existence, character, extent, 
or methods of the commercial fisheries. It was known that of the food articles 
imported by Porto Rico dried cod-fish held an important rank, and that only an 
inconsiderable part of it came from the United States. 
It was believed that an investigation of the aquatic animals and plants of Porto 
Rico would not only yield important scientific results, but that a study of the fishes 
and fisheries of the island would prove of mutual commercial value to the island 
and to the United States; and for the purposes of comparison in the future it was 
of vital importance that the work be initiated before the modifying influences from 
the United States began to be felt. The Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries therefore 
decided to undertake such an investigation at once, and to make it as comprehensive 
and thorough as possible with the funds and the time which were available. 
The principal subjects of investigation were, of course, the fishes and fisheries 
of the island. This would include a determination of the species of the fishes on and 
about, the island, the distribution, abundance, and habits of each, the value of each as 
food for man or for other fishes, the location and character of the different fishing- 
grounds, the species taken on each, the relative rank of the food species, the methods 
of the fisheries, and the character and extent of the import and export trade in fishery 
products. Similar investigations concerning the reptiles, moll us ks, crustaceans, and 
all other groups of aquatic animals and plants were also desired, particularly with 
reference to the native oyster, turtles, and other food species. The opportunity to 
add to our knowledge of the land animals, especially mammals, birds, reptiles, and 
batrachians was not to be neglected. 
The U. S. Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawk , Lieutenant-Commander Richard 
G. Davenport, Ik S. N., commanding, was assigned to the work, and the following 
persons were selected to carry on the investigations: Dr. Barton W. Evermann 
(naturalist in charge), Dr. H. F. Moore, Mr. M. C. Marsh, Mr. W. A. Wilcox, and Mr. 
J. B. Wilson. Mr. A. H. Baldwin accompanied the party as artist to the expedition 
more especially that the life coloration of the fishes might be accurately depicted. Mr. 
August Busck, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, joined the expedition for the 
purpose of studying the insect fauna of the island. Mr. A. B. Baker, of the National 
Zoological Park, was also a member of the expedition on behalf of the Smithsonian 
Institution, chiefly for the purpose of making collections of the land vertebrates. 
1 Plante Utowanse; Plants collected in Bermuda, Porto Rico, St. Thomas, Culebra, Santo Domingo, 
Jamaica, Cuba, the Caymans, Cozumel, Yucatan, and the Alacran Shoals, December, 1898, to March, 
1899: The Antillean cruise of the yacht Utowana, Mr. Allison V. Armour, owner and master. Field 
Columbian Museum Publication 43, Botanical Series, vol. ii, No. 1, pp. 1-110. Chicago, March, 1900. 
2 Two new Glossophagine Bats from the West Indies. <Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., xm, May 29, 1899, 
33-37. [Of these two species, one (Phyllonycteris bombifrons) is from a limestone cave near Bayamon.] 
The bats of the genus Monopliyllus. < Proc. Wash. Ac. Sci., ii, March 30, 1900, pp. 31-38. [This 
paper contains a description of M. portoricerms, the type of which came from a cave near Bayamon.] 
