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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES,

Compliments of the

Commissioners of Inland Fisheries.

PROVIDENCE:
E. L. FREEMAN COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS,
1908.

State of Rhode Island and Provideure Plantations.

THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES,

MADE TO THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

AT ITS

JANUARY SESSION, 1908.

PROVIDENCE:
E. L. FREEMAN COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS,
1908.

COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES OF RHODE ISLAND.

HENRY T. ROOT, President, Treasurer, and Auditor........Providence, R. I.
ALE AISA. SOOM MGA NOUCNS, \YUORIP TASC Alb ooh ono doch acenccadcos Newport, R. I.
WiMeceP"MORTONS Seenetary 54.0. e ele P. O. Box 966, Providence, R. I.
EAS OCW). Wi UEIANRAD eterna Gey. <, ann terca taeda nd Ae oe Westerly, R. I.
PEE AES TD) VBA sincere Ge Wat een oe one ee Brown University.
ADELBERT D. ROBERTS...........:....P. O. Box 264, Woonsocket, R: I-
AV MIRRSET = 13 OVAGRHIDIMIAING 21,045 shy ensid ice ene ier tae rage eee cee Central Falls, R. I.

So] 2

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

General report upon the work of the Commission, and the financial state-

ATENEO COWL, we accs tara arte ie leat wpscrr ell ed race Meme S, 4 Death Sa le: ot Sacpe
The stocking of ponds and streams with fresh-water fishes................
Collection of data and statistics relating to the commercial fisheries........
Fish traps set in Rhode Island waters and list of trap owners..............

The continued examination of the physical and biological conditions of the

Report on the lobster culture at the Wickford Station for 1907, by E. W.
iBarness pupenmtendent) of jStationeecerrer 2-2 26a eee Ae

The salt water aquarium and sea-farming exhibit at the Washington County

List of officers of the United States Bureau of Fisheries and of the State,
HS HEMIES AUG NOMULICRG 4.14 Salo a4 Pyare bevavs aide nis <i) Fd, «ote eas « MRD

General index to the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries
of the State oli hhoderisiand: 4.03 2.4:..1s)2 see ie as aks ale aoe
Titles of special papers published in the Annual Reports of the Commis-
sioners of Inland Fisheries of the State of Rhode Island...............
Special papers :-—
The Fishes of Rhode Island. V.—The Flat-fishes, by H. C. Tracy.......
The Fishes of Rhode Island. VI.—A Description of Two Young Speci-
mens of Squeteague (Cynoscion regalis), with Notes on the Rate of
wheirGxowto;/byi MCs Dracys. 2, 4. <2 See os See eee ee
The Problem of Feeding in Artificial Lobster Culture, by Victor E. Emmel,

93

116

117
127

141

TEAM AEE
: Aah
‘ CO's im
hile aise Vane

i) ee
valde Coste.

Mt

Bob Fike be

To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island
and Providence Plantations, at its January Session, 1908:

The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries herewith present their
annual report for the year 1907:

The fact that the fishing in the inland streams and ponds of the
state continues good, even though each year more persons are in-
dulging in the health-giving and the delightful sport of angling, is
due directly to the planting of fish fry and to the protection of the
fishes by law. Of the present various activities of your Commission,
the maintenance of the fresh-water fisheries within the state is the
oldest, and has received constant attention for many years. An-
nually about 40,000 yearling trout are distributed throughout the
waters of the state, and frequently black bass, shad and other valuable
fishes are also planted. The efficiency of this procedure is unquestion- .
able, and the beneficial results have enlisted the interest of the real
sportsmen throughout the state so that they willingly codperate with
your Commission both in the distribution of fry and in the enforce-
ment of the law. In order that there can be no excuse for ignorance
of the regulations governing the fishing, the laws have been printed
in convenient form for carrying in the pocket, and copies have been
widely distributed and can be obtained at any time from the secre-
tary of the Commission. During the past year 40,000 yearling trout
have, as usual, been purchased and distributed.

The duties of your Commission do not pertain merely to the fresh-
water fisheries, but extend also to the salt-water fisheries of the state.
The latter, besides furnishing sport for anglers, are each year in-

creasing in importance and in extent as a commercial industry.

6 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

The increase in the importance of the commercial fisheries is not by
any means a local matter, but is general throughout nearly the whole
world; witness the development of fisheries along the Atlantic and
Pacific seaboards of the United States and Canada, the organization
of the federation among the nations of northern Europe into a board
of international fisheries, and the paramount fishing industry of
Japan. Better organization, new and more effective methods,
knowledge of the habits and movements of fishes, increasing facilities
for distribution to markets, and the corresponding greater demand
for fish food, and the realization of the immense possibilities of the
fisheries in increasing the world’s food supply are all factors in the
development of this growing industry.

Within our own waters, some idea of the increase in the commercial
fisheries during the past ten years can be obtained from a summary
of the yearly census which your Commission has compiled regarding
the number of fish traps set within the Bay and in the waters im-
mediately outside. Leaving out of account the Block Island traps,
the data are as follows:

Year. No. of Year. No. of

traps. traps.
SOS A sted sects RE Seek DMS 119 NOOB RL See CAE a Pee 195
HTS SO cee SI soos che acre 121 MOO Ag ss tbe ete ee ae 214
NOWORR AR clatrtAt sc cote ooo ws aes 135 IQ Obs: seers eee on creat ae eee 234
OOM Peace eee ieee at ta Uren Vou! TO OG 3. ae. A eee. meee ee ea 243
TIGL PSA EB ro eh epee toh aes Chee Apead CRE Ere otc 161 UG Oty sre RPT. os ENE a 265

The increase in the number of traps has been general throughout
the Bay, though it has been greater in some localities than in others.

This appears in the following summary:

Prov. East West Mt. Hope| Sakonet | East | Off-

Year. | River. Green. Passage. Bay. River. Passage. shore.
SOS yaks 4 | 6 26 | 9. 34 | 5 25
LOO ee ial 37 a) |) 2, 87 22 70:

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

“I

This increase in the number of fish traps serves perhaps as a fair
index of the rapid extension of the commercial fisheries, but trap
fishing is by no means the sole fishing industry. The alewives,
herring, shad, flatfish, menhaden, cod, mackerel, sword-fish, and
other fishes caught by means of seines, weirs, beam trawls, harpoons,
and by the hook and line, figure conspicuously in the grand total of
commercial fisheries.

Through enactment by the General Assembly several years ago,
the lobster fishery was placed in the hands of this Commission.

Your Commissioners have faithfully endeavored to enforce the
laws for the protection of this valuable but waning industry, and
their endeavors have met with a gratifying degree of success. The
majority of the lobstermen and dealers have been from the first in
favor of the law and its enforcement, but there are, of course, some
who systematically attempt to evade the law and thereby to gain
an unfair advantage over their fellow fishermen by taking short or
ego lobsters which honest fishermen put back into the water. The
first effect of the enforcement of the law was a decrease in the catch,
but since that time there has been yearly the steady increase which
the advocates of the law expected and desired.

The present magnitude and the rapid growth of the fishing in-
dustry carried on in the public waters of the state must be of in-
terest to your Honorable Body and to every citizen of Rhode Island.
Wherever the fishing industry has attained considerable importance,
difficult questions of legislative regulation have always arisen. The
development of the fisheries, and not their restriction, should always
be the motive in fisheries legislation. Restrictive measures are
naturally the first to come to mind when the danger of exhausting
a natural food supply threatens. While such measures are often
warranted, even necessary as more or less temporary expedients, they
. should be applied with a reasonable care and not blindly, and they
should be supplemented as far as possible with positive constructive
measures looking to the actual further development of these resources.

The history of oyster culture affords a simple and illuminating ex-

8 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

ample of the comparative value of restrictive measures and of de-
veloping the natural resources. Without restrictive measures the
natural oyster grounds. once ample for all demands, would have been
exhausted long before they were, but the present enormous output
of oysters could never have been produced by merely restricting the
fishing.

The problems to be solved differ with the different kinds of fisheries;
but there are so many examples of the development of a particular
branch of the fishing industry that it seems certain that in other
branches the difficulties may be overcome one after another. Ex-
perience clearly shows that the first step toward permanent im-
provement of a branch of fishing industry consists in finding out the
habits, food supply, movements, and general conditions of life, of
the species in question: That the Federation of Fisheries Boards in
northern Europe is occupied with the systematic study of the general
conditions in the ocean from the English Channel to the Baltic Sea
shows the general recognition of this fact.

While the problems of the development of the fisheries are too
numerous and complex to be solved by any one country or state, or
in any one generation, your Commission begs leave to point out that
the State of Rhode Island has already taken an honorable part in
gathering information and working out practical methods which are
of value not only to the local but to the general development of the
fisheries. Through the earlier investigations of your Commission,
many questions of importance concerning the life history, breeding
habits, means of distribution, and rate of growth of the starfish and
the scallop were for the first time settled, and later similar researches
on the soft-shell clam were successfully concluded. In addition, a
practical method of clam culture was established which formed a
basis for an industry which is already started in other states and
may ultimately in this state rival in importance the oyster industry.

Eight years ago your Commission, in collaboration with the United
States Fish Commission, undertook the problem of rearing lobsters
after they had been hatched. The obvious value of this procedure

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 9

has appealed to the fisheries authorities in nearly every country and
state in whose waters the lobster is found. Attempts to solve the
problem have been made in nearly all of these, but have been followed
by uniform failure owing to technical difficulties. The experiments
at Wickford in 1900 resulted in the fortunate discovery of a new
principle which has been since applied with improved devices and
apparatus each year until now a method for rearing lobsters is in
operation which hatches the eggs.and rears the fry to the “lobster-
ling” stage with such economy and in such numbers that it may be
called practical.*

These efforts of your Commission to contribute to the permanent and
general development of the fisheries methods as well as to look after
the local interests of the fisheries have evoked considerable interest
abroad, and inquiries regarding these methods have been received
from England, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and the Isle of Jersey;
from Spain, France, Germany, Norway, Austria, Ceylon, Japan, and
New Zealand. Included in this report is an article on artificial
lobster culture by Professor Ehrenbaum of the German Fisheries
Station of Helgoland, translated from the official publication of the
German Sea Fisheries Association (p. 14). Professor Ehrenbaum’s
eminent position among fisheries experts, and the fact that he has
for many years given especial attention to the question of lobster
culture, having written, in 1903, a summary of the work to that
date, gives especial interest to his characterization of the Rhode
Island method of dealing with the lobster problem.

Particularly gratifying is the confirmation of the opinion often
expressed by your Commission, and by others who have studied the
habits of the lobster carefully, regarding the relative value of lob-
sters when first hatched and when reared to the first bottom stage.
“Tt may safely be asserted that the setting free of over 100,000 young
lobsters of the first bottom stage—the result of the labors of 1905—
lifts the whole work above the plane of experiment; for these thou-

sands have more value for the improvement of the local lobster

* See Ehrenbaum’s comment, p. 23.
2

10 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

situation than as many millions of larvee of the first stage, with the
setting free of which we had previously to be satisfied. With the
taking up of life on the bottom the great dangers that threaten
the life of the young lobster are chiefly over.”

During the season of 1907 the output of lobsters in the fourth
stage was greater by about 50 per cent. than ever before—294,896 as
against 189,384 for the year 1906. The season was unusually late,
owing to the cold weather in April and May. The sudden warming
of the water at the close of the cold period resulted in crowding the
capacity of the plant so that its efficiency was not as great as it
might otherwise have been.

In the report of 1906 several suggestions were made for improve-
ing the efficiency of the lobster-rearing plant at Wickford. The weak
condition of the eggs when received at the station Was a serious
handicap. To correct this your Commission recommended the
purchase of a launch large enough to fetch the egg lobsters directly
from the lower bay at frequent intervals. A satisfactory launch was
purchased and was used during the summer for general purposes,
but was received too late for lobster operations last season. It is
hoped that during the coming season a very great improvement will
be made in the condition in which the lobster eggs are received.

A very considerable alteration in the lobster-rearing plant was in-
stituted which will be put into effect next season. The large canvas
hatching bags which have been used for several years have been re-
placed by wooden boxes of the same size. The boxes, like the bags,
are provided with windows of woven wire in the bottom and sides, to
allow for the circulation of water. Several boxes were tried experi-
mentally last summer and proved to be very satisfactory. They
have many advantages over the canvas bags. The latter were
easily torn or punctured, especially when they had been in use for
more than one season, and even small holes will allow the exit of
lobster fry and, worse yet, the entrance of the destructive shrimp
and the mummychogs.

Twenty-four hatching boxes each about 10 x 10 x 4 feet, have been

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 11

built. They will be placed in the old side floats and in two additional
side floats which are to be connected with the original ones. This
will about double the capacity of the plant. An additional engine,
3 HP. Morse Fairbanks, which is practically a duplicate of the original
one, has been installed. While either engine is capable of running
all of the machinery, it was thought advisable to have a duplicate
engine to provide for emergencies. An incidental advantage of
the boxes over the bags consists of their usefulness in the hatching of
the eggs.

The methods of hatching the eggs, like those of rearing the young,
have gone through a gradual evolution at the Wickford plant. At
first the eggs were brushed off from the female lobster and were
placed in the rearing bags and swirled around in the water by the
moving propellers; this method very much resembled that in use in
many stations where lobster eggs are hatched in jars. Then a simpler
and better method was adopted, namely, that of putting the egg-
bearing lobsters into shallow crates and placing these crates in the
hatching bags. The young lobsters as fast as they were hatched
would go out between the slats of the crate into the water of the hatch-
ing bag. Subsequently the depth of these crates was increased,
and alterations were made in their construction which proved to be
an improvement. The present form of rearing boxes does away
with a necessity of special crates, for the old egg-bearing lobsters can
be placed directly in the rearing boxes, where they crawl around on

‘

the bottom, and as fast as the eggs are hatched the fry rise ‘“auto-
matically’’ into the current and are kept off the bottom by the move-
ment of the revolving paddles. As the lobsters are (like hens) the
best possible incubators, and as the large size of the boxes and the
excellent circulation of the water allow freedom of movement and
comfortable surroundings, the scheme is nearly ideal in simplicity
and effectiveness.

Another desideratum which has been mentioned in previous re-
ports is an ideal food for the fry. Among the many foods that
have been tried, chopped clams have seemed to give the best results,

12 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

but are expensive and to some extent wasteful. A careful series of
experiments was conducted last season with various foods, viz.,
clams, liver, and beef, to determine their relative value as food for
the young lobsters from the first stage to a stage considerably later
than the fourth. The general results of these experiments indicate
that shredded beef is, on the whole, a more suitable food, and less ex-
pensive than clams. Besides the lobster work, other operations have
been actively conducted by the staff at the Wickford laboratory.
Records of the temperature and density of the water; of the places
in the Bay where clams have set; of the arrival and departure of
fishes; and data regarding the occurrence of the young of various
fishes like squeteague, menhaden, tautog, etc., have been collected
and placed on file for future reference.

In connection with the improvements in the equipment of the
Wickford station it may be mentioned that a houseboat has been
built by the member of your Commission in immediate charge of the
station, at his own expense. This floating residence is anchored in
the vicinity of the laboratory in Mill Cove, Wickford.

Your Commission has employed three deputies to assist in the
enforcement of the laws. Two of them have devoted their time ex-
clusively to the enforcement of the lobster law. While it is and al-
ways will be impossible to prevent entirely the unlawful taking of
short lobsters, the enforcement of the laws at the hands of the Deputy
Commissioners has resulted in preventing immense destruction of
young lobsters which in a year or two will come to maturity.

Discussion of the legislation in regard to the protection of lobsters
has been frequent of late in this and neighboring states, particularly
in regard to the proposition which Dr. Field of the Massachusetts
Commission of Fish and Game has ably set forth to the effect that
the old rather than the young lobsters should be protected by the
law.

Your Commission does not accept this view of the case. That
large lobsters produce more eggs than small ones, no one can, of

course, deny, but it must not be forgotten that for the increase of the

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIBES. 13

individuals of the species, protection of the eggs and young is quite
as effective as great productivity. The crawfish, which produces
perhaps one hundred fry and protects them, maintained its numbers
as well as the lobster which produces two hundred times as many and
does not protect them. The dogfish, which produces not more than
eight or ten young in a season, but protects these until they are nearly

p)

a foot long, has a reproductive power, or “germ fertility,’’ equal to
that of many species of fishes which produce a thousand times more
fry and leave them unprotected. Examples of this simple biological
fact could be multiplied by the hundred and extended through all
classes of marine animals. The number of eggs is not an index of
the abundance of a species, and a few individuals which by means
of natural or artificial protection or by sheer good luck have got past
the exceedingly critical early stages are often worth myriads of free-
swimming larvae. It would seem, then, that energy could be more
effectually expended in protecting the fry and the partially grown
young than in increasing the number of eggs. Another fact which
thilitates against the proposition in question is that in proportion as
the large lobsters are excluded from the market the demand for young
lobsters must increase. ;

The following paper, already referred to in this report, by Professor
Ehrenbaum of the German Fisheries Association, is introduced as
giving an interesting and impartial statement of the lobster-culture
problem from the point of view of an outsider. The last part of the
paper, dealing with the rate of growth of the lobster, is omitted, as
are also the figures and their description.

ARTIFICIAL CULTURE AND GROWTH OF THE LOBSTER.*

BY PROFESSOR EHRENBAUM, HELGOLAND.

Since I reported in No. 5 of the volume for 1903 of these “ Mit-
teilungen”’ in regard to recent, especially the Norwegian, researches
(by A. Appelléf) on the lobster, the question of satisfactory procedure
in the artificial rearing of lobsters has been worked at pretty actively,
and—as must be added—not without success. Apropos of a report
on fisheries at the World’s Fair in St. Louis (‘ Mitteilungen” vol.
for 1905, p. 259-294), I have already pointed out what a lively in-
terest the American Fish Commission especially has shown in recent
years in lobster culture and with what remarkable success their
efforts have been crowned.

To-day the problem can be looked upon as practically solved, and,
since it has gone so far in the United States that after many and
varied experiments a system has been worked out which can be
operated practically, it therefore appears timely to give to a wider
circle of persons interested a view into the condition of things and
to set forth the prospects that open up for the future.

For better understanding, let us here again call attention briefly
to some important points in the life history of the lobster, and at the
same time point out the difficulties that lie in the problem of artificial
lobster culture.

While artificial fish culture starts always with the fertilization of
sexual products ripe for deposition, the conditions in the case of the
lobster are decidedly different. The fertilization of the mature eggs,

which probably follows immediately after their extrusion from the

*Translated from the ‘‘Mitteilungen des Deutschen Seefischerei-Vereins’” vol. 23, No. 6,
June 1907, p. 178-189.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 15

body of the female, goes on under all circumstances without the help
of man, and moreover during the first months of embryonic develop-
ment there is no avail in any artificial interference for the purpose of
hastening or even of merely continuing the development. ‘The em-
bryonic development of the lobster has the enormously long duration
of 11 to 12 months, and no hatchery is able to work with such pre-
cision that the eggs entrusted to it shall remain normal for almost a
year. Also, an artificial hatching lasting so long would occasion such
heavy expenses that they would stand out of proportion to the at-
tainable result. Therefore it is out of the question that the fertilized
lobster eggs should go through their entire development under ar-
tificial conditions. Again, for such a long time artificial means would
hardly be able to reproduce the favorable conditions under which the
eggs normally develop on the swimming appendages on the under
side of the female lobster.

But when in spring, after the long pause of winter, lobster catching
begins, and by and by pregnant females are taken in the traps—at
the beginning of the fishing season this happens not at all, or very
rarely—the embryos which these females carry on their bodies are
then already three-fourths of a year old and more, and stand ata
longer or shorter interval before hatching out. . Now, in order not to
lose these pregnant females in commerce and consumption, and, on
the other hand, not to destroy a numerous and already well-developed
progeny, devices have been tried for stripping off the mature eggs
carefully from the mother and for bringing them to complete ma-
turity and hatching them in specially constructed apparatus, while
the mothers themselves are delivered over to consumption.

This device readily showed itself completely practical to this ex-
tent, that, when properly placed in hatching apparatus or floating
boxes, the eggs developed very well and with relatively little loss up
to hatching out, so that we were in a position to give back to the sea,
in the shape of young lobsters, what we had robbed it of in the shape
of maturing embryos together with their mothers.

The commission of inspection for the Newfoundland lobster

16 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

fishery, which is one of the largest in the world, has worked for years
on this program, and, since the beginning of its activity, has set free
in the bays of the island hundreds of millions of new-born lobster
larve after they have come out of the eggs hatched in floating boxes.
The eggs themselves were stripped off from the pregnant females,
and the fish inspectors keep close watch, that in the great canning
factories no pregnant female is used before its eggs have been stripped
off.

But it must not be overlooked that no matter how carefully the
work is done, the larve being set free as near as possible to the bottom,
nevertheless bunching the young larve in a limited area is unavoid-
able, which under natural conditions never happens. This immedi-
ately attracts enemies and causes a speedy end of the young lobsters.
In nature care is taken that not even the offspring of one female come
into the water all at once, since the larvae usually hatch out a few at
a time and mostly in the night.

The circumstance that in nature the many millions of new-born
larvee scatter themselves over a vast surface, and that therefore the
magnitude of the dangers threatening life is greatly reduced, gives
natural conditions an extraordinary advantage over the conditions
supplied by artificial breeding. The value and significance of this
can not be overestimated.

Yet we could well be satisfied with the achievements of artificial

lobster culture if it were indeed allowable—as many believe—to
measure the value of artificial breeding by the number of new-born
larve put into the water. But this assumption must be firmly
opposed.

Certainly it is of value if numerous germs, which the intensive fish
trade would heedlessly destroy, remain through artificial means more
or less completely kept in the sea, for thereby in the most favorable
case the injurious influence of fishing is approximately counteracted.

But artificial breeding ought not to be content to do at its best only
what nature does unaided. It obtains its real justification only when

it is in a position to surpass nature in her achievements. Only thus

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. iG

can it accomplish the task set it—to fill up the gaps caused by years
of excessive fishing.

In the particular case of the lobster about 30,000 new-born larve,
which represent the average total mass of the brood produced by
one pair of lobsters during their lifetime, contain the potentiality
of only one pair of mature lobsters. For if under natural conditions,
from these 30,000 new-born larve there are, after a lapse of 7 to 9
years, more than one pair actually living, there would arise an over-
population of the sea, as regards lobsters. The existing equilibrium
in the economy of nature demands this heavy mortality or life-risk
among the growing lobsters; or, to speak more correctly, on account
of the numerous dangers that encompass the growing lobster in his
particular mode of life, the creature must be endowed by nature with
a germ-fertility that shall suffice, in spite of the great decimation
which the struggle for existence entails, to guarantee, nevertheless,
the requisite posterity.

We have simply to regard the germ-fertility of an animal, 1. e.,
the mass of germs which the species in question brings to maturity,
as an expression for the sum of the dangers which threaten the ani-
mal during its development up to sexual maturity and the conse-
quent propagation.

In the case of the oyster, which has a germ-fertility of over a
million, and of the cod, which brings even three to nine million eggs
to maturity, their dangers must be materially greater than in the
case of the lobster, which is satisfied with a production of 20,000 eggs
on an average at each laying; and again, the lobster’s dangers must be
ereater than those of the crawfish, which brings only 60 to 120 eggs
to maturity.

Now if artificial breeding aims to surpass the achievements of
nature, and bring a greater number of larve or new-born to develop-
ment and full growth than nature is able to do, it is necessary first
of all to reduce the number and magnitude of the dangers and to
protect the growing animal, particularly in that period when its

life is especially threatened.
3

18 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

If with this purpose one approaches the plan of an artificial lob-
ster culture, there can no longer be any doubt at what point the pro-
tective measures of the lobster culturist must be applied.

The lobster during its embryonic development, although this
lasts very long. enjoys remarkable protection on the part of the
mother animal, and also later, if the young lobster once gets devel-
oped so far that it can live on the bottom—which happens usually
in the third week of its life—it is able in a remarkable manner to
protect itself from all kinds of enemies, so that its life is threatened
in a relatively small degree.

But in the first two to three weeks of its life, when the lobster moves
about in the upper layers of the water, more tumbling about than
swimming, and leads a plankton life, the number of the dangers that
threaten its life are so much the greater. Its slow movements, its
unusually vivid coloring, and its size work together to the result that
despite the greatest care it falls a victim to numerous robbers, es-
pecially among the fishes, so that this short section in the life of the
lobster may rightfully be called its critical period.

From this state of things, it is very clear that here must lie the
point of attack for artificial breeding; it must try to bring the young
lobster over the short period of its plankton life and keep it under
protective care until it, as a normal dweller on the bottom, shall
find the necessary protection in natural conditions.

Since there is here only the question of the brief period of two to
three weeks, one can hardly imagine a more ideal subject for arti-
ficial breeding than the lobster, for it looks as if, with comparatively
small means and in a short time, a grand triumph could be wrested
from nature through artificial interference.

So it looks!

But as a matter of fact there are very great difficulties to overcome.

The first attempts to raise new-born lobsters in ‘aptivity, to bring
them past the first moultings and to lead them over into thc fourth
life-stage, in which life on the bottom can be taken up, ended in a

complete fiasco. A fatal inclination of the larve toward cannibal-

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 19

.

ism, which is not to be lessened by a plentiful supply of food, as well
as the perishing of numerous specimens in moulting, have been the
principal impediments to the success of the culture experiments
which were carried on with the same zeal in the United States as in
Europe—here especially in Norway.

The Norwegian investigator, Appelléf, who has many times re-
ported his experiments in the ‘‘Aarsberetninger der Selskab for
de norske Fiskeriers Fremme,” tells us that the first two moultings
(to the first and second life-stage) usually went smoothly, while the
two following demanded an enormous sacrifice. With the exercise
of the greatest care he succeeded in one case in bringing over, out of
a large number of larvee, 1,500 into the second stage, and from them
400 into the third stage, and finally 100 into the fourth stage.

It seemed as if the difficulties present were insurmountable, and
that after all it would be the most profitable to put into the open
water, with the least possible losses, the artificially hatched lobster
larvee directly after hatching out.

But in spite of all failures, the breeding experiments were con-
tinued most zealously, especially by the Americans; and from that
quarter the announcement was made to the world, a few year’s ago,
that the continued efforts had at last been successful in finding a
practical way for the raising of young lobsters. Already in my re-
port, mentioned at the beginning, on the Fishery Exhibit in St.
Louis (“ Mitteilungen,” volume for 1905, p. 278), I brought out what
erave doubts these reports on the results of breeding by Americans
had met at the outset, especially among all those who, like myself,
had become convinced of the difficulties in the case. But now,
since I have seen, at the floating station of the Rhode Island Com-
missioners of Inland Fisheries, at Wickford, near Providence, Rhode
Island, the palpable proofs, can I no longer exclude the conviction
that the perseverance and ingenuity of the director of the station
has succeeded in solving the difficult problem of lobster culture.

The credit for this belongs to Dr. A. D. Mead, a professor in the

Anatomical Department of Brown University in Providence, R. L.,

20 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

who has reported repeatedly and in extenso in the not easily acces-
sible Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries of
Rhode Island (29th to 35th report), and also recently in a short
summary in the Proceedings of the American Fisheries Society,
1905 (p. 156-166).

From the latter treatise we learn that the undertaking of the ex-
periments on the part of the Rhode Island Fish Commission—partly
in collaboration with the U. 8. Fisheries Bureau—is owing to the in-
stigation of Dr. H. C. Bumpus, who was formerly himself engaged
in studies on the lobster, and who was at that time Director of the
Wood’s Hole Laboratory of the U. 8. Fish Commission and a mem-
ber of the Rhode Island Fish Commission, and who now is Director
of the great Museum of Natural History in New York. The ex-
periments began in the year 1900 with gauze bags, which were hung in
the water and allowed the water free access into their interior. But,
since the bags were weighted, in calm weather the lobster larvee
gathered, along with remnants of food, in the pockets which were
formed by the weights. This was as unfavorable for them as the
blowing of the bags out of the water in a strong wind when the weights
were removed.

But finally the continuation and variation of the experiments
led to the discovery that the secret of success in the culture lies in
keeping up a constant motion of the water in the breeding bags.
Through this motion of the water a two fold result is obtained: the
larve are prevented from lodging in corners and folds of the breeding
bags and there mutually feasting on one another; and the food is
kept evenly suspended in the bag so that it is easily within the reach
of all the animals under experiment.

Next it was established by means of a preliminary experiment
what advantages the motion of the water afforded. In this case it
was carried on by hand with an oar. It became at once apparent
that a vastly greater number of larve could be carried over into the

fourth life-stage than in the earlier experiments, and that these lar-

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 21

Ve, through the absence of fungal growths and parasites, were much
healthier and sturdier than was formerly the case.

In the year 1901 a mechanical device was employed for the first
time to keep up the motion of the water, and in connection with it
an enlarged and improved form was given to the whole hatchery,
and this essentially has been retained.

The arrangement of the hatchery, housed on a large float can
easily be, seen from the illustrations.* In the midst is a so-called
‘houseboat,’ with two superstructures, a laboratory and a tool
room in which is a small, 24 HP gasoline motor. The middle por-
tion carries two small hatching bags, 6 by 6 feet on the bottom
and 4 feet deep. On each side, connected with the middle portion
is a float built of 6-inch beams and kept up by barrels. In the spaces
between these beams are in each case five large hatching bags,
12 by 12 feet on the bottom and 4 feet deep.

The hatching bags consist of sail-cloth and have in the bottom
a large window filled with wide-mesh gauze, which allows the water
free entrance. They are fastened to sliding poles, on which they
can be lowered or raised at will.

While the machine is running the upper rims of the bags are
above the water. To the shafting on the float are attached a num-
ber of two-bladed propellers, so that one is in the middle of every
hatching bag and by its turning keeps the water within the hatching
bag in constant motion. The motion is very slow and gauged to
about ten revolutions a minute. The action can be regulated by
adjustment of the propellor blades on the axle. It produces an
upward whirl in the water strong enough to keep constantly in
suspension the larve and the finely divided food. The vertical
axle of each propeller is connected to horizontal shafts by means
of gears. The horizontal shafts on their part are carried often long
distances, by means of repeated couplings, to the motor. The con-
nection of the shafting of the great side floats with the main shaft
on the middle pontoon requires a kind of balljoint and a very flex-

([* Illustrations showing the arrangement of the hatchery can be found in previous reports,
especially in the report for 1905.]

iw)
iw)

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

ible one. For it is obvious that the separate parts of the great
hatchery are exposed on the water to rather large and irregular
motions, although the relatively calm water of the protected Wick-
ford Harbor was chosen for the anchorage.

This apparatus is utilized at the same time for the hatching of
the eggs and for the raising of the larvee, and has proved itself equally
good for both purposes.

While in former years the number of the lobsters in the fourth
stage was not above 100, already in the year 1900, when the me-
chanical stirring of the water—at first by hand—was introduced
in Wickford, 3,425 lobsters of the fourth stage were obtained; but
in the following years, by the help of the above described mechanical
outfit, the number of lobsters in the fourth stage was:

TOOT 2 cee Ue ne mn oes home Agere Ace eee eee 8,974
VOOR eect CAP ee PRR URC otee nee eae ote aR ae at Pe eee 27,300
HOO Bee 5 okt Ba OTA MAY Dan RE, tee Seno EER Eee ae se 13,500
The, t7 MORE RAgAT Ese shee Ed) EO MEOE GENE CuI ee Tier al 3! ict 50,597
ROO Rend ees 9. aM aire Ti MAS Las 2 2 rae eee rear tee ee 102,000*

It should be mentioned that these figures are not the result of
an estimate, but that the larve were counted singly after being
taken out of the hatching bags with a tea strainer.

In order to pass a judgment giving due credit to the work of the
hatchery, one must know not only the number of the lobsters of
the fourth stage which are finally set free in open water, but also
the number of those hatched out, with which the rearing experi-
ments were made. But since these hatch out in the same hatch-
ing bags in which they are afterwards reared; only in a few cases
could an account be kept of the relation which the number of the
lobsters of the fourth stage held to that of the first stage.

The following cases are reported by Dr. Mead:

On June 7th and 8th, 1905, 20,000 new-born lobsters were counted

out into a hatching bag. The fourth or bottom-stage began to

{[* 1905, 103,572; 1906, 190,000, fourth stage, 25,000, fifth stage; 1907, 294,896.]

bo
we)

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

appear in ten to twelve days, and a total of 9,635 individuals, or
48 per cent. of young lobsters of the earliest bottom-stage, were
counted out.

On June 28th and 29th, 1905, from a like experiment with 20,000
of the first stage, 8,178, that is, 40.8 per cent., were obtained.

Since no special care was taken in these two experiments, they
can be regarded as typical. Already earlier, with a smaller ex-
periment number, higher figures had been obtained; e. g., in 1901,
from 1,000 new-born, 500 of the fourth stage, that is, 50 per cent.

At any rate it can be regarded as settled that at no experiment
made earlier and elsewhere has any approach to this result been
attained, and that the methods adopted by Dr. Mead must be a
pattern for all further attempts that shall be made in this field.
It may safely be asserted that the setting free of over 100,000 young
lobsters of the first bottom-stage—the result of the labors of 1905—
lifts the whole work above the plane of experiment; for these thou-
sands have more value for the improvement of the local lobster
situation than as many millions of larve of the first stage, with
the setting free of which we had previously to be satisfied. With
the taking up of life on the bottom the great dangers that threaten
the life of the young lobster are chiefly over.

Whether the setting free of these lobsters has exerted a perceptible
influence upon conditions on the shores of Rhode Island, appears
somewhat questionable. I should hesitate to raise the question at
all had not such a conscientious and discriminating investigator as
Dr. Mead felt called upon to state that the fishermen had reported
the appearance of a great number of small lobsters which the traps
would not yet hold, but which slipped out when the traps were raised.

The possibility of a connection between these small lobsters and
those set free in recent years can not be denied.

If one looks back upon the peculiarities of the American method
of lobster hatching, everything seems so simple and self-evident
that the question arises why this path was not travelled before.
On the other hand the very simplicity of execution makes the affair

24 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

very credible and recalls the egg of Columbus. Besides it should
be remarked that the idea of employing mechanically stirred water
in an aquarium for artificial rearing has often, in recent times, been
turned to account. So,e.g., the “plunger jar” of C. T. Brown, first
used in England for raising meduse and other delicate organisms, in
which the motion of the water is produced by the raising and lower-
ing of a glass plate in the experiment Jar, is constructed on a similar
idea (cf. Journ. Marine Biol. Assoc. Plymouth V, 1897-99, p. 176,
fig. 1;) and the apparatus of the Frenchman, Fabre Domergue and
EK. Biétrix employed with great success in the raising of flatfish
larvee, especially soles (of. Développement de la Sole, Paris, 1905,
Vuibert et Nony, Editeurs, p. 219 et seq., fig. 37-89) is really noth-
ing else than a—clearly independently constructed— repetition of
the Mead lobster-hatching apparatus on a small scale and for labor-
atory purposes, in which the gasoline machine is replaced by a } HP
hot air motor and the large hatching bags of canvas by glass dishes
containing 12 liters, while in place of the propeller with its two blades
an upright, rotating glass plate is used with an inclination toward
the vertical axis of rotation.*

These similarly directed efforts to find the proper ways and
means for the construction of apparatus for the artificial rearing of
delicate developmental marine forms strengthen the impression
that the right way has been entered upon, and the success al-
ready attained make it a certainty that the possible improvement
yet to be made can concern only accessories. To the last belongs
the not yet satisfactorily settled question concerning the proper
food for the young lobster larve. Thus far finely minced clams,
and shredded fish have been employed but without establishing the
conviction that this is the correct food. Also better means must
be found for keeping off disturbing plant growths, especially diatoms,
which are only moderately kept down by shading the hatching

bags. The keeping up of a proper temperature, not too low, as

* An apparatus of this kInd is now employed in Helgoland for experiments in lobster

raising.

Or

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 2

well as pure, well aérated and circulating water and proper food,
contribute to develop the new-born larve farther and to bring them
in the shortest possible time to the bottom stage.

For us an outlook so satisfactory on the practicability of artifi-
cial lobster culture must naturally involve the question whether
and how far the approved new method of culture is applicable to
our local conditions at home.

The answer must unfortunately be in the negative.

The roadsteads of the island of Helgoland are far too unprotected
and rough to permit breeding experiments to be ventured at all
upon anchored floats. In America they were carried on, as has
already been said, in an entirely protected bay with calm water.
It admits of no doubt that like favorable conditions may be fgund
on the British coast as well as in the fiords of Norway, and _ per-
haps also on the Austrian coast of the Adriatic, where also there
is great complaint of the diminishing of the lobster supply. In
Helgoland, as far as we can now see ahead, the lobster-culture
experiments must always be confined to the small scale of the labor-
atory, which at any rate permits the demonstration to visitors to the
Helgoland exhibition aquarium the hatching and culture of the lob-
ster and afford the opportunity, not to be undervalued, for obser-
vation on the moulting and growth of the lobster, but which never
will attain practical significance for maintaining or increasing the
Helgoland lobster supply.

If now, on the one hand, we at Helgoland lack the possibility
of carrying on practical lobster raising, yet, on the other hand, it is
satisfactory to know that there exist no serious indications of en-
dangering the Helgoland lobster supply through fishing, so that
there has not yet arisen a grave need of recourse to the aid of artificial
culture.

The fishery is carried on in a very rational manner, and the obser-
vanee of a three months closed season in summer, a minimum
size fixed by law, and last, not least, also the peculiar life-condi-

tions of the lobster, which afford it a very strong protection, have
4

26 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

thus far sufficed to give the catch of the Helgoland lobster fishery a
satisfactory uniformity. There are also grounds for believing that
the Helgoland production in the future as well as in the past will
satisfy the demands of consumption, and in addition it is gratifying
that the general rise in prices, which the Helgoland lobsters have
also shared, has been reduced in a gratifying manner since the
abolition of the import duty, granted in the summer of 1906.

The following is the financial statement for the year 1907:
State of Rhode Island in account with Commissioners of Inland Fisheries.

1907. Dr.

Oct. 1. To paid American Fish Culture Co., for 40,000 trout and

Gistribubionyo sane )5 lettre merce ae $1,053 16

Dee. 3.) Torexpenses ol (Commissioners...) eects cea ye ete aes 570 13
Po laboratonyege ccs foc ce Chul cies pe Cae ree ar eae 3,899 96
Moveretlolsterss 64: Gee Be Are EY SRE Oa rate re ne Raeee 1,960 60
TO MNL|S WelAUMG He ween CRE ts aot Meee Ree paler 2,203 80
Mo aiew eneine for laboratory? <7). 4-15 cine seer ie 169 03

Moxdeputiessuncder lobster laws. (0. 5. ye cle soe clei ices 2,300 25

$12,116 93

1907. Cr.
Heb. 20: YBy received trom state-Treasurer.0. er - tee eee $1 00

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

April 18. By received from State Treasurer

28. “ “cc a3
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REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

By received from State Treasurer.........-..--------- $70
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REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 29

Augs,-1.. By received from State Treasurer: ..........622:.--4. $18 00
i oh a Th eel oes me erry ea 24 40

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ce oe ce “ee 20 42

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21. , + - SE P22 RU DRED ac eetee nat evar 35 00

28. y i + AES act okie ae Ne OE 94 85

30. e : Oo | SA RMOR ON RS ey At ected 19 98

30

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

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20.

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REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

91 10

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. oil
Nov. 27. By received from State Treasurer..................... $35 00
“ bea tes meee Cel. ae iN 20 88

( os or OSU IOPRS chtn an aah yaa ear ta ara 87 75

ae ef ? a ee i I eo eee 21 00

oe # : Be a ee EE Me geet RE 19 30

i : MMR Ue Pax Ea vk rel on Yarn ah ect ie 13 69

Dec. 4. “ oe . SOT Aaa en oeapee natr sta et 28 20
ss se G Sih i AN Eee eet Pe re 25 20

s¢ a COE MERI BA SOROS. GAO UD 3 3 50

6. a eS . SANE Lire tesserae ui eae dn Tee eee 20 00

12. i i. s Se) ehh emird cee GRAN eri ans 48 56

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18. ‘: ee ae aan Cre See, Teo ee Sate 52 30

se Hi ¢ Nir sy Pl rsiccc ec capetene eee yo a ere les 2 50

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sf ar ue ME a 2) Pre es RK pene 84 30

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$12,116 93

Respectfully submitted,

RuHopE ISLAND COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES,

HENRY T. ROOT, President,

December 31, 1907. Treasurer and Auditor.

32 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

THe STocKING OF PONDS AND STREAMS WITH FRESH-WATER
FISHES.

Trout.

The Commission has purchased of the American Fish Culture
Company, of Carolina, R. I., 40,000 yearling trout. These have
been distributed in the various streams of the State. We wish to
take this opportunity to acknowledge the assistance rendered by

many of the fishermen in the work of distribution.

Shad.

For a few years past the United States Bureau of Fisheries has
been unable to supply your Commission with shad fry, because of

the scarcity of the spawn.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. oo

THE COLLECTION OF DaTA AND SraTIstics RELATING TO THE
COMMERIAL FISHERIES.

The difficulty of collecting complete and accurate statistics of
the total catch of fishes has been remarked upon in previous reports.
There are so many and so various channels through which fishes
reach the market or the private consumer that it is practically im-
possible to keep track of them all. This difficulty is not peculiar
to Rhode Island, but applies to the fishing industry generally.
Nevertheless, a fair indication of the relative status of the fisheries
is to be had by comparing the statistics taken year after year from
the same sources. With this word of explanation, the following
tables of the catch of fishes and lobsters, based upon the records of
dealers and transportation lines, are, as heretofore, submitted:

Table Showing the Amount of Fish, Lobsters, and Other Sea Products Shipped
Monthly jrom Newport by the Principal Transportation Companies
During the Year 1907.

B
: 3d
q billie Sia :
© - | @ | 4 al) Ns
=~ |/ao|/2/dla]|42i]a| oa A
a fA CSRS |e | § Belcan | cuales
ZB i) SPE ey Gel) YN ee) ey |] ce |S
ia el SS ea eS Oe se |
Pe ean eee ag ese |S a eg ea a oe
Bo ee We ake | ne ees cas ere
BI Ae el eel oles Weal Se ee
el sah |) fa) | eoy || (aa) |l ee || bean | be NN foal MV bee, |) ze |) (a
AYSIU Vatieye etek Cie ccd ederio lc Gicpeuc x aisle eeeoes PTS 247 Pleiades allo
ME DRUSTY cry ts occ a bela fae eee roy Nigel ee 22 VE Ieee deal arated erica every oneal Loi ee | lec
MMiarchincttrs seiewcsi theo othe ache tee! weeks 638 Sales cals Sealey os llecne enol eee lVeecact I eae axl eae eee
Nor wil) sacle ere Rn ee en 959} 168 2 Dhol eee
May teen ce DL a ee / 10,303; 159] 8| 1 7 eae hee Kea ane
TiC ey ee IG Ee AN eee es AVS) CAN Fa al SH all UV aed eallecellnoalloc.
diielipsehh id cheek See ieee eee te RE 9 340} 195/134] 6] 5/118! 3] 67]|. OH 4]
INU Eris Ce es ot Ne ts ee G15) 185170 yes ees eG |e eel Ales |e ees
Septembormaeee: suamoniaiisc esse 3,837| 121] 20]. Ai 12|' tl 6|...| 3
October ee we Ps oh oe bbe soa | Siew) ai] in| @) a CH iG] Bho. slios-
INO MEM DeLee Medes Aer ae) deaatek hob t arittete 10028 eee 2). 5) 31.
Wecemiber= 2 seer cits maven. eaydghs seen ees | 1,278 2a
a a ed Oe
Motalep erry es ther aioe 59,674] 1,529/322| 12] 24/263 13/112 iy) aie] ail)

34 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Table Showing Shipment of Fish, Lobsters and Other Sea Products from Newport

jor the Last Twenty-one Years.

a ral S o
n oO ‘i . a
ra s Silesia (es Sala m | wm | 5
© oS . 5 | iS o = |a]°e q
& We ee |e el etre aM eel cee seals eet eed es
2 cs Sisila|s}|2| 6 rt Soh) sh leer |) Ee |p 1
a fe) Sl R/S] a] Olam DPIDoLBAlnl a] S| >
i - ClO;OoOl|n {na} Z 2 5 me)
tod me wm we mM
z 2 PHN ee eh 7 SAMA es ROS loi eh IP PE Jc
© g Eien =a fo ect in ice RSE T=) PATE PSe Hl a= [ES ERED. batee fans
u u m b a w a a| & fl & &
Cy 3 ai a|ajaj]a|- S) |) SSM limcs
—Q joa) AIiMAI/AIA|AIS!S ZlA 4212/44/90) a
USS ipecrtsiey aisle 2 cysts 16,657 SSF CO ealiscvaltstens Srehen tone ded leueketts

[ASS TERS liege lvl ol ele Ho lee ates etn fe alba Peps fez Pe Se
GSE) a an a Ie) 306 DIOLT eral al es aA eA mn hee a ae Sabai
ec a! B'O33I 9) hGSOle eed ay ean lagen Eye ee A Fave HA et
TIER a a 180321 2eoaeel eee, ev yal eal hs aoe epee ge ae
ASOD hee hte Pye PME |e We ga Pate ae OU a WA a EE eM IP fa
Hau rane lee icate (| ea 450 [8h basmati 0% eran oll Cle EU IU ek ae
URGa HL ON PENA D Cs 17,769) 2)392|...|..! POE eA Sed ie Peed oh Pee Sl ak ihe
as en ae ena 24,622| 2,119|...]... POA Veh ate WHat leat 9 tee ec
TBO Gane Missa eie DOTA My Nee SICe tila alata le asaya lacie een fee he ene ee en
ASE ged ts.) Cen haat BOOBS Ee DSW LUT tale cle Falircval Wms ie sco cee a
ROR Ce Law BAOGE| oT ULES | tell see [ie bas ticcoa ltl cle loka ll ell a eee
TSGOM te pe ae BAIT 11 c4aaS | ale Wal Me cool, celielig ats
TOOO dea hire Se.dp4l( abroatiaie| SNe Lele aalaiee alae eal ec ke ae
TORU La ee Wa BOSOO) fe PA1SOSN ale UT aN ied cali pesal| aN| ul Sa Mae
TOGO eh hs bu. BaloRall i vesaole eel tlle 01). ll terol val ket ae
HOGS ee ects BA geal!) Tea7alo. Alon cise ele 21) @e4| a1! Wo] nl] sami ls ee
190425 Ve bas. k esl) @2, 1061)” TORT (0451 BIN AO. 54.2 21236 ee ede aad
Ne a eR ge 50,127 977|...|122| 80] 3| 23] 723/ 26] g1|...| 1] 4]...|...
TOUGLAMreae ee 60,855} 1,3063|233| 17| 15] 2] 6| 811] 11| 40 j112
Cig oan A 59,674| 1,529|...|322| 12] 8] 24] 263] 13] 112] 1] 12)...|...| 18

bo
—

SS)
_

ho

Total...) 5.6 715,957| + 46,7374/233)891|115] 13) 53/3305) 61] 658) 3) 25 18)130

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 395

The Number of Pounds of Lobster Caught in Rhode Island Waters for the Season
of 1907, Compared with 1904, 1905, 1906.

Compiled by Wm. T. Luth and James Harrington, Deputy Commissioners.

Fish Markets. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907.
ea MieGannys 45:2 sacs et eens 20 113,420 147,464 182,462 209,204
CORB eAndersonkacr = ana: 34,074 31,965 63,398 158,427
PNlexaVahtalkesit + a veVA Ns vec: Succ cieteie | Uae Seven en gh be penlicwene 71,876
Aya! Wiel a each aavarate lo Bes ie aad Onteniente, NL FLUC toneent 33,568
Saloons and Restaurants... . 6,700 45,436 41,850 37,814
Burlingame «& Carry........ 12,000 8,079 6,480 6,300
Tollefsen & Dewitt......... 10,000 15,000 15,000 16,000
CRN ee ene 15,000 20,636 11,500 19,200
MV aUGRe eat eh RGA kins 9,000 8,004 7,548 7,000
1d, (CEASIsT Hale Ss eet gis osaieren 9,500 10,000 10,135 6,000
iHastenbrooks... os. sae. 25 - 5,000 6,525 - 6,550 6,500
Wancastersssnn ace aoe oe DiQOOw yy el ecilers .) « | RUEAS See
BVM a wiiOMl a). sollte suse eee 6,000 8,000 8,000 8,000
RING te ete. ie + have ord ee 800 550 900) ) ) Fee
GrOWL Ye oe a reads Schama ev BOOM Vets eee k- 0) \ ESSERE. A eee
Sa CHERUE I Ate NGA ee Berserk WL PES ta baat. 1,800
226,994 301,659 353,573 581,189
Want. J: A. Pettey, Sakonnet. 2.7.00... ...: 97,641 163,341 193,243
Block Island, )
Waren Jabba ais ob 150,000 100,000 155,000 155,000
Narragansett Pier, j

(oy rn dh es eee me 376,994 499,300 671,914 929,432

36 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS

OF INLAND FISHERIES.

The Number oj Boats Engaged in Lobster Fishing in this State for the Season
of 1907.

Compiled by Wm. T. Luth and James Harrington, Deputy Commissioners.

Sail and power boats.

LSE] OVO) dl Econo Mec ga Seca ne 44
Narragansett Pier............ 4
SAUNCErsStOwWMn ee ae ee ee 2
Wacktordec es cei tne As Ae 1
AONE Leynne carte nisist teen 2
IBENSTS JR el es evoemtetate Beto ebiotace.c 4
Warren and Bristol.......... 2
(Greengeill ean eect rae Ns
NV d 8 6 RRR open tent cp ae 5
Blocks sland ae ere 101
INESLO Wile eye ee cae eee eee ‘5
Bomb Ucables 10 cee ee cee D

82

Row boats Pots.
42 7,507
5 365
1 225
3 125
i) 350
6 375
2 200
1 70
2 475
2 1,475
4 697
2 240
75 12,104

Men.

os

Dt a
oF O&K NN OH

b
bo

14

Lobsters Received jrom Nova Scotia from December 20, 1906 to June 30, 1907.

Compiled by Wm. T. Luth and James Harrington, Deputy Commissioners.

Crates
Wecember, 19063. ee 1 eee
emma. LOOM. -1en «cts ce ence ee UDO
Hebruary; V9O7. 6c. ds ke. te 270
Mancha Oiean see aoe seine 248
EMSTU LOO Mn st akce sae sneha wien te Ne 489
NEG ITO pe Rear me te RR egies 144
MITTS MOD ee Meares oat eae cca 11

Number of Number

short

Lbs. » lobsters.
40,600 148
162,925 954
47,250 2,476
43,400 360
84,375 542
25,200 32

1,925

405,675 4,506

of egg
lobsters.

19
3

i)
bo

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 37

The following table shows the amount of lobsters shipped by boat
to Providence during the season from April 15 to October 15, 1907 :

JOH en hes See ROP a OPE IPOD OLS eae PC Pa a 55 barrels.
AVEC Ve RNR Net ae 0.0 Sin why ee ee sf 83 :
ELT REMI IR PS oy hot ceo cis: «Pa Ee ERE een et MT: trae? 60 *
Pal VR Ree fe sil: 63) 5 <4 aietg hal dara Rete ea eee ee 635 *
PUTS IN A 2 occu 5 12h to ty ay st 5) 3a ote case 3 are nee er oe vet | 18 “s
SG] OUGUD o[ cio ek Bea cipaa aio a pcelae ss EAE RS Se aha BAD. f 14 a
(ONGC) OST SEH ee eae bee MERE EU AMT Ana ino Bak. dee 6 ss
MCh eee Ne Ss Gres wi Rtn ik Se as eR a OL Se 2994 barrels.

38 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

THe LocaTIon or FisH—TRAPS WITHIN THE WATERS OF NAR-—
RAGANSETT Bay, AND THE COLLECTION OF Data BEAR-—

ING ‘UPON THEIR OWNERSHIP.

The collection of data under this head was begun in 1898, when
there were already more than one hundred traps in the Rhode Island
waters exclusive of Block Isand. For ten years our reports have
published charts showing the position of the traps and a table indi-
cating their ownership. The table giving the summary for the ten
years is interesting in showing the steady increase in number of traps
in various locations and as a whole.

The increase in the number of traps includes the year 1907. It is
particularly noticeable in the offshore traps, where the number
has doubled in the last three years. During the scup season a cordon
of these large traps is spread about the mouth of the Sakonnet river.
To form the outer edge of this cordon, traps, each with a leader
one-half mile long, are stretched in a nearly perfect arc from Seal
Rock to a point south-southeast of Sakonnet Light. The remaining
traps are interspersed within this are in such a way as to fill up the
gaps in the outer row. (See chart.)

FISH TRAPS SET IN RHODE ISLAND WATERS AND LIST OF
TRAP OWNERS.

TABLE SHOWING NUMBER AND GENERAL DISTRIBUTION OF FISH—
TRAPS SINCE 1898.

The following arbitrary divisions have been made for the sake of

convenience:

I. Providence River.—South to a line joining Warwick Point and
Popasquash Point.

II. Greenwich Bay.—South of Providence River division in west
passage to a line drawn east and west touching southern part of
Hope Island.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 39

III. West Passage.

region to a line drawn due west from Beaver Tail and west-of a line

The west passage south of Greenwich Bay

connecting the east end of Greenwich Bay boundary and North Point.

IV. Mount Hope Bay.—North of railroad bridge, Tiverton, and
a line connecting Bristol Ferry and Muscle Shoal Light.

V. East Passage-—South of Providence and Mount Hope Bay

divisions and north of a line from Beaver Tail to Brenton’s Point.

VI. Sakonnet River. —The Sakonnet river south of railroad
bridge to a line connecting Flint Point and the breakwater.

VII. Of Shore.—Traps south of above divisions and not off
Block Island.

VIII. Block Island.

s ie] > re

a - S ie £ g Be

9 5 2 Bs a = : =

YEAR. = 3 Z = B h 2 a

o Lal [aM = qd Ss fo) _

ay | SC = Ee muecel rem eeiag | 5

Sila ea Weise icant: vee tie sae lab ee whens

a is} 3 —

& fe = s Z gS Ones &
IDSC) ER Sd Se 4 6 26 9 34 15 Outs al, fee 119
PROGR Pg ea a Bech a 3 10 23 11 35 15 Daan lease: 121
119101 ea 4 16 24 16 34 12 PBN Wiel wiles. 135
i107 Se i 15 24 13 52 14 Dy Sie (eid oe 151
COP. he ee oe ae 6 22 27 13 52 14 Det dele, 161
TSTOBY, Seely hee aa ee 7 21 32 13 72 16 SOc ee 195
GO A UR 6 27 33 7 78 14 49 6 220
MOO DME fy coerce cities ate 6 26 33 1 82 20 56 6 240
TYO, Se ee 6 35 27 1 80 20 64 6 249
NGOs tee ras sas eat 7 37 30 12 87 22 70 6 271

Compiled by E. W. Barnes, A. M.

40 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

1907.
LIST OF TRAPS AND OWNERS.

Off-Shore Traps. (See Charts.)

Mmdersons (©, A.) (ict. ae ee eee eee South Cormorant Rock.
AuTderson' GC. vA... «5.0 eaten ee ee eee South Sakonnet Light.
PNTTOerson, "G; JA Aw sini hose enone eee eee South Narragansett Pier.
mAnoerson, "CoA i ccse one oer eee eee ete ere South Seal Rock.
Melimeen’'C2 SVL te a eee ee ee eee Breakwater, Point Judith.
Brightman, W. (OO) tcc 0. e.ycteanrees eke rene eet en eee Seal Ledge.
Brightinan; Wee: ene ae ne ee South Sakonnet Light.
Brightman, We (O0)iton cue err eee Below Cormorant Rock.
Brownell & Cliurche 0h. 0st 2 Neues 2 oe eee ee een Coggeshall’s Ledge.
Brownell S.soc tee eae oe ee Aen ts ee eee Lower Pier.
Brownell, (2. 8h ecb. en ons toes North Narragansett Pier.
Brownell, o'r. pee ot cues Raa eee pee ee South Sakonnet Light.
Brownellery ) 3) er Weare ee as ee aerate s South Cormorant Rock.
Calvert: 4G. (OOO)? Fae ee ererttees ae pane tie eee Spouting Rock..
G@lweeht 2 2.52 pie.cid Bene a ena os SOP ee South Lower Pier.
Clan ehi, Jaco. 's2 = ayo eet beh eee aetna che One South Ochre Point.
Church, J\.-o2 ..sie gk Bice eles oa Sees ee OULD O@e nese Onate
Cottrell, Cottrell, Church & Luther.............Coggeshall’s Ledge.
Cottrell, Cottrell, Church & Luther. 2:5). % 28s. Cormorant Rock. -
Cook’Chas:. (00) s54:< 2 eee ee ee ee North Sakonnet Light.
Easterbrooks, C. (00)....... BONE Sethe. Mic) Weis aA er a Price’s Neck.
HISHETICS (CO so. 2 6 se landne Se eee dt eae ee eee Coggeshall’s Ledge.
isheries Co. (OO0000000)) aes. ee nee South Sakonnet Light.
Grime) Ee. os ca ( ¢-4 5 eee ee South Sakonnet Light.
Moclamnen a... o.v..c. . eee ee South Breakwater.
Moekameen: ET oct. s0'. <'sc- x Si epeeRee eee as ch eee Sakonnet Light.
Macomber deal ONS .. ..5:/..4 eine as. aon aimee eee South of Pier.

* The ciphers indicate the number of traps set in Jine on one string of leaders.

eo voy
Wht aagek ENLOd

POA

one
ewe
@ momnrny”
® ° sxw
e
e @ Oe MAL
Pn
e © ewo. ta
@ oyna
e e ¥v009
e OD YET ouopynoug @ woo
ae e ™0"8 @ pment woiapuy.
: e
ene i ead yung
e ete — @ ogteon Rr ew Ommr
a e 020" e
Pa e
O © mat oe O20. B Nemo
mond 490),
° e
S e
© abuxpr e
i ee me
TIVI0@ “09 Wl #uapmong
moat C)
UN @
ZONA,
07-00 /(@ ones
Dang
102)
e a
pares baad syuadiny
. 101
eee = fia aobinoy,
Trey bb09
sue p 09
frossy ox
UY 22) gy ,
[, Pak map uy
abd i
be)
feugy , HO-shop “00 ~soii Yi)ug “it oF
A glowouoy
) fone ating Qf 'h019 AO
Spy} tig
wT, = NY
Sho. nus x9
a & nog 7 Su ,
A vn” ads »
SA UO, 500K WINS!
2 N
psoy ‘wos, Be \
g = wworg hosy
moO =
a
sroug iva
Pano) uy! ‘a
fossvjf
Dd
purpnogy
00 “PT
J)
wenn
O 9
e uo)noug
1d
wy
wAKO,
vu,
Ha, ayn

uomac’ MONDO

Rowe

pug

a@ow LTNaAOW

*4061 YO4d LYOdAY ANYdWODDV OL S4IYSHSIS
ANVINI JO NOISSINWOD GNY1SI dGOHA FHL Ad Gauvdadd

*406) YOd SdVUL HSI4 JO NOILYDO1 JHL ONIMOHS

‘AVE LLLASNVOVUAYN

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 41

Macomber & Simmons..................Below Coggeshall’s Ledge.
Macomber & Simmons (00).................South Sakonnet Light.

HeCUUR a) PP Mach Sco s oo os 6 ob ty es oad ot tlre South Cormorant Rock.
FerOnGenceriishy GO. 262. von: acc giles a aes West Cormorant Rock.
prowadencer tis ©Oi i.) 12.5. snes .e ae ste South Sakonnet Light.
RUOSEn adit tment s forse 2 gaiaas: 3 b. 2 seek ea ie aoa Below Cormorant Rock.
TSORS(S 5 aN Gia Ae ee oe ee South Cormorant Rock.
Rose, Geo. (00). LS eae | Olona te North Sakonnet Light.
ROSE POCO Met teeta ita cl i AS oe eh a cote ies South Sakonnet Light.
pakonnet Oyster: Cos (00) 53.45 os sen. ess FP ea ha ele ks Seal Rock.
palkonnets Ovation Cow .6 424 vase soc) os des Pane Coggeshall’ Ledge.
Sx@wulsty= (Giese (101010) ANA Sete a 22 Se a Ae ta a PO Easton’s Point.
SOWIE. (Grae Ce ite Ae ae en West Sachuest Point.
Mmallmaanselsa(OO)eui! . fosnse wok va eed es oo South Cormorant Rock.
“TRETIMTOMG 9) BAU ee a er 2 ee South Sakonnet Light.
ING LES Ae Gases GDRs 3 Pee Ce ee West Price’s Neck.
NPA NES UNM A yt A Ars at a e seeahe aka? Breakwater, Sakonnet.
AV Mires red mad tee hte IM 5 ote gshsacs a) ASXoasl Atahstangie’ «gee 2. eke Southwest Seal Rock.
VALID: Coe RAS Aeon Pw a a ee West Breakwater, Point Judith.
WAC Opes a SE MRI Fane ed Sey) sr, South Cormorant Rock.
Wale ese REDS (OO) ni4 5.5 3ec0. adie aid dhe hdlantle ae barat West Cormorant Rock.
INGA GG <0) 5 LER: e Ie een eR aS a et CrP North Sachuest Point.
NUL 5:9) [URC ee OO ar Oe PSO DPR RT RA, ee Sakonnet Light.
Other Traps.
Palurerc ee re (OO) Seh3. oe At) oo stole oils atta ee eae ona North Point.
J IGMAG lay S189 (C00) Abts gee elie NE Quonset Point.
ANTON) URSCNA CMS 2k an an RF SSN. High Hill Point.
Je iaisy. JP ra2 0) Sat (0) G) eat ed dea a South High Hill Point.
JING BAS. (Chgad BL RDN lal er ED ee tah Coddington Cove.
ENO OUEIS ial, (Ch 18 sie Mk AR a RD Oe en Coddington Cove.
ID AKC Oma INEM LTR ust, Gee Me lean West Vials Creek.
BT ayuenen Gee (OO) so. tic asts ms sb) eee eee North Prudence Park.
IBSMER IOI, (Coc che Bands ae aR RE SS cal cma Podjac Point.

6

Qa

42 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Br euyc bio maha nea OUR iis cnne ls kV tol RAD a ke ema Pine Hill Point.
CANMEMUCT GEO. ue Me chai tials), Oat aes chedalae aaa South Ferry.
COtreeceinen A OO) 2 eth 8 0 ed a Wood’s Castle.
Croreehers) NEI aN ies Parte Re one Lower west shore Sakonnet.
Wopmesiial BiH hid Lt MMe Me IO Canaan _.. South Sandy Point.
‘Choyeecrete cli ed aaa One e rh aZ Mie en pela seat North Sandy Point.
Waren vende {(OOO). 26) eile Lene cine taMe Lower west shore Sakonnet.
Coney gtd (OO) ey cite wee Non Naa kaeea Nini Neo ree Wood’s Castle.
Coren ndcA len’ (OO) Andi eran eek ie rule is eae South High Hill Point.
Worevinds Alon: (OO) jie aee Me ticentaie x cisiey chcean tan bey Seeds Brown’s Point.
Corey, & Martian (OO): gear: bee eens. eel South High Hill Point.
Gorey.& Martin: (OOOO). es cnie eat. aero North Brown’s Point.
Corey ce Maritim (OOM anes rectal s aire '.North Church’s Point.
Outre M iS: te Srey Be MU ase Nhe eee Ca West Popasquash Neck.
Wot ire S heey al ce Cee eran?’ 0 pal Oh anelce West Papasquash Neck.
GapimellaS on juintios Reels d spe leks West Popasquash Point Neck.
GOOGLE NE AS oh zatgc pee eed nae aeons cys 2 Part tales West Popasquash Neck.
Woverell Si (OO) ese cen cieties tre mh best pire Roe eR ger Mount Hope Point.
Woteme AS ye sey a oytd oie Sawa ae dt nati ca South Mount Hope Point.
Cottrell, S:. (000) .22.42...:.:.........Upper Hast Sakonnet River.
Bouere ills Wes (OO) sce ake AN ia cate ee ee Dee North Tiverton.
eater Cr ees eee gaye Sutice esis INC a Neue ae AMSAT ates South Portsmouth.
IRS Iab KCI LW AR ey ane Aa eine ey aun e even ane Madan eae, ladda IN North Tiverton.
JENS) cise! Gi hat oy ci PRM MR UOC Ea AU RANI A ecm cc North Tiverton.
Bis lave bin GOIN c ea laien asta edt Ga REN ie CMa trad oe North Tiverton.
ish aC limtom n(OUO\ oes candn Picks oe aie icsakenat tens ree McCurry’s Point.
Clete Gamig Aris COO) oi eye mae ie race te ae ae Castle Hill South.
Grave ros. (OOO) oe eis eer ek tana Ase ctck aa Lane East Hope Island.
Gray Brosy(O0OO) i. te iw ee aa alas. A ace UCD Ce Tare
Gran; LOS aged aay sh clsc s cuean eae MRO A Co Nee Southwest Prudence Island.
Giraiy,, MG @OssE Sra OOF Nandan eC ane teeet a ea eRe South Sandy Point.
Kaman Gre Ol Re CEH Aci Ouceeid ie ias. anne, North Sandy Point.
Gray, Geo, Haw Con (O00) it aes oe Je meee South MeCurry’s Point.

Grimmellhs Be (OOO) vintners sinew Senos Koa North Pine Hill Point.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 43

CSET TRIO) LG age a ad Pe pes ERO a Hull’s Cove.
Harvey, Chas..........South Coal Mine, West Shore Rhode Island.
150 Gales) 3 SING 1 Seam WP oe a on oO Castle Hill South.
TRUGA WLIW 00 LI |e Sat og el ee ante ST CNA eo aU CO oo Island Park.
SIGS PAMMO LG sy... 6 e0 sais be ha Le ee ae oe eS eee Taylor’s Point.
MAURIS HOE TRON Cli 95.12. «ck Aietile Sa RS coherent TSE Jamestown.
James, Arnold....... Ee ene ee Ay oh Reece A tes Mackerel Cove.
Niolitns One Gtnisn hake G2,:cAh sce esac ens nee h nee eases Fox Island.
UST OO Sy eax ce ae SA RS At a aa UR ae ee Fogland Point.
Rone dy Warts (00)/ 050 on. tec. us Casino nas. «south MeCurry s Point.
TESTES CARY WCE Sot ata ee ae South McCurry’s Point.
Maken benre(OO) eae as 28 nae aa ese tine 30 eA Fogland Point.
MONK Coe leap in te. Sider thea! ay A MeO) daca di Wi ee eaten West Vials Creek.
a emMbee NS Seen e ne watt, Cad ckli tat ck O Northwest Conanicut Island.
WawiGon Wide. sts bench: Bal Lee a Vee ott eke ete Mackerel Cove.
WWeavoiborrmasly les. sem tacts Ae habe ches, Bone G Us Bataahee Mackerel Cove.
ety OTA pel ceet Spa Poss er PAM Dyson ese pecote re ride atthe <i slots, Mackerel Cove.
an il OM aya ates bn torts WA es acs RE cl wk ane.’ ss Maekerel: Covet
Gawiconmwekea(OO\ eens tees cee ee ee eG Brenton’s Cove.
WWE NGS AE LOS Ae Bie fees aoe wie aaNet: cacti, BE MV be ls Packards Rocks.
Mes ROSH ea tyes Pe A ti apats aes s Aeon aaa West Vials Creek.
Hewis Bros (OOO) gaa. k Site lta as ees ete e se ae Wild Goose Point.
HFS WASH Eros. (OO) 1443 scene the eee ai et ee Dutch Island Harbor.
ME WisMinTOSwa's . .u:s eter. ce seeeatan North Dutch Island Harbor.
L/S \ aS 9) SANOFI Sandy Point.
Me wismbroe ste lier eels Bears hbc ae Ged whens South Sandy Point.
evncmnvasom: (OOOO 64151) ho visas eae North Black Point.
Mewicwalsone (OOO)S a 2 fa. aa otic ds CE ee North Sandy Point.
MOCKS PVIOSER 05 cite le lots ax halal Pia cla ahd vlehih dal Seba aa eerenaes Buttonwoods.
Wockerpylcess oh hee cid ss 2 k.s 84 oa saad eee South Chepiwanoxet.
ocke rs Woses (OO) 2s wis 6 2s sis k io ste to eels haeed: North Chepiwanoxet.
Macomberuhe Ac (OO). 2.82.2. 2.9) 2005. North Bigh Fill) Pomt.
IM CORMDER OUPRIOSE Rey fiche bscale.e da ae North Pine Hill Point.

NUM Voltron ay,, «1 P00) Mae Ae ec ne Northwest Hope Island.

44 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Mi leyatescouind HS (O10) (a aaa renee i Northeast Hope Island.
Nisvglictey nfl 2 ((0(0) Meee RR SMP RAS RS OU oe le Buttonwoods.
AYIEy CALS OTD og apa tee ocae 2. gnc ep Nye Sa eRe ts Buttonwoods.
MrMelNe SCT. CAN a ac" Sak Steely gedaan eee ge ee South Sandy Point.
IMtamicWester, {At |) Si. MieC acces ee aml he ee eae ee North Sandy Point.
BVI SETS TD) i.2 a ele tstind Se es ie Un yar ere eR Quonset Point.
Miamchester..[08. acvodaee net ae cle one Mee penne ay See Vials Creek.
GEES OM: Gio cy i: eae ea ahha hl ORAM gies gall Oe ca Kox Hall.
ME CESON Cy Sen auteetaene kee ate pre Deseo nen ae ae Conanicut.
INC LS TS ow Seuss athe penis Cee nee tonne one ee ae North Prudence Park.
Matehel (iki ieee tte bse sminietr Can) Sah Aree ne areemnee South Podjae Point.
IN Oi A OUET org «OLY pn A PaE Ue es eM REN ge Eee he Se Austin’s Hollow.
RIGT Cer soe PIN 3 Aske oan eas oe Ene renee ae South Black Point.
rer ce mb. Ii Ws irae) Ac lated eS cat ee een eee North Sandy Point.
Providence: Mish’! COowsis,)s. es see ee hae Off Wood’s Castle.
HSC OMe leliny el aa oo8 ey ch he So as cll LUNN NOR MERCER eet Warwick Neck.
Buco Dal 6 Letyes Ou ase Mee arcmin ge ORE rroe Nay A Met uaa ay Warwick Neck.
BSOSOe Ge Ort Cees ects eee geen truss eee ENR oT mena Church’s Cove.
EvOSe ny COM) Reg wisest cana Cates he Agee North Mount Hope Point.
OSE gr COn kite wiate cote a meme uel . unkl emCe North Mount Hope Point.
IOSemGeor (OOO eee sins aac atc aon eee eee North Sapowet Point.
EVOS CAUCE wedi ia Wis. Sane scat cpa Upper East Shore Sakonnet River.
HEROS ye EU Chee ae ea Met re Be nc nee Sen aN eR eye es South Stone Bridge.
EVO OE liar he PN bith ae on: Upper East Shore Sakonnet River.
ReOSe ra euTian (Ors te legttoey ei ehe ection de Me eemele North Sapowet Point.
SEE) OUICG) eo Ries OAR AOR onde Oper res Sse Ree South High Hill Point.
Shepherd, J. (00)... .......5..c08.0-...-North Point Bopasquash:
DINE Tene glicys hue ak eee ee) 33a Rumstick.
Sillevdiaie We a (OO Ns sree aoa, ees pit aed SiS eR ER gue one ie arte Flint Point.
SISSON Saree hh ee ee es a ata Re South Greenwich Bay.
MM bh BOS aaiset asc cy Se, oman ae ecceeeecere Southeast Prudence.
PSM M IS TOS pak wee lsfin caw ohaecs neste eke Sanne East Shore Conanicut.
nih Bros; 5A tice i, oh eek ene Oh wegen East Shore Conanicut.

ONO TCU Tm Ra ON er Eadie RE Deo SURES eI West Quonset Point.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 45

SPOUT Vee hy, oie ee ene te, eet RCS creer tea oa Poplar Point.
Sita! A e(00) ne er Peers or asad eu South Sapowet Point.
SUSI Js SAS eee CE ERS ee Sh ES South Sapowet Point.
SG Ane Pines ele rete (a; APM els-< Soka Mie ae eA am South MecCurry’s Point.
‘SOUTH Sak Jo ee ee PY SE oP North Point Conanicut.
SJOLEL Sad he ee R oe ce rad re Southeast Prudence.
faber, J... Hy ae til te: AN Ge ee A North Tiverton.
Hipage Oyu 0h terug eee mae See ae North Castle Hill.
MIRO C bara eacctearatas 2: Sune cs Ste ne ee Austin’s Hollow.
MROUPP CO wher peu ce- Peer TS Sie dn BC a ae South Saunderstown.
ANZ Oey GTO seach: ameter sue th creek ce Ne. ah Renee tear Church’s Cove.
VIDS i Le X (Oe ican a a nee ree ae High Hill Point.
VAY all Oa le ne aa hae Pn a 9d a Church’s Cove.
VG 2 UOT, bg Ih Ai Ae RN ae a a ee South Sapowet Point.
VAIS OMIM AU een ere aor eA Cul as cutee fdas cits et aga eed ee Buttonwoods.
AVAIL SS (OIee At enna Tiger met eee MLM. cuit Ate, fay, AL ea South Podjae.

\ AYA S of ots WU (0) 0) Re eae ge yy enor tr ar eee South Greenwich Bay.

46 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

THE CONTINUED EXAMINATION OF THE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
CONDITIONS OF THE Bay.

Data relating to the character of the shores and sea bottom, the
temperature and density of the water, the occurrence of animal and
plant life in various places and at various times; facts relating to rare
or unusual animals; information about breeding times and habits
of fishes and invertebrates, and miscellaneous data of similar char-
acter, are continually being gathered together and placed on file.
From time to time the Commission has brought together portions of
these data in the form of special papers. (See index.)

The present report includes the following special papers:

THE FISHES OF RHODE ISLAND.

No. V. The Flat-fishes, by H. C. Tracy.

No. VI. A Description of two young Specimens of Squeteague
(Cynoscion Regalis) with Notes on the Rate of their Growth, by H. C.
Tracy.

THE FISHES OF RHODE ISLAND.*

V. THE FLAT-FISHES.

BY EIN. (C2 LAG Yo Arai.

BROWN UNIVERSITY. .
‘

The flat-fishes and flounders comprise a group which is in many
respects one of the most interesting among the fishes. Their
abundance in all seas and their excellent food qualities has long
made them of very great value to man. Another factor which
contributes greatly to their value to man is their availability; many
species of the family find their most natural abode in shallow waters
near the shore, where they are easily accessible to all fishermen, even
to those who work with the most primitive methods; in most locali-
ties, also, one or more species of flat-fishes are present in considerable
abundance during every season of the year, and so afford a constant
supply of valuable fish. Thus the value of the flat-fishes to man
compares very favorably with that of those fishes whose vast wan-
dering schools sometimes furnish immense quantities of fish but
which are very irregular in their visitations and subject to great
variations in abundance.

The flat-fishes also possess a peculiar interest, since they furnish a
striking illustration of the modification of an animal to a certain
specialized mode of life. They show how unique may be the direction

* Previous papers in this series are as follows:
I. A List of the Fishes of Rhode Island, 36th Report, 1905, page 38.
II The Common Fishes of the Herring Family, 36th Report, 1905, page 100.
Ill. The Fishes of the Mackerel Family, 37th Report, 1906, page 33.

IV. A List of Rare Fishes Taken in Rhode Island in the Year 1906, 37th Report, 1906,
page 65. :

48 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

which changes in form and structure of animals may take in order
that they may become adapted to the conditions of their environment.
The flat-fishes are exclusively bottom fishes; they are somewhat
sluggish in habit, feed mostly on bottom invertebrates, and seldom
leave the bottom except for relatively short excursions in the pursuit
of food or when disturbed. To a fish of this sluggish mode of life,
such an inconspicuousness in appearance as will cause it to be over-
looked by its enemies and prevent it from frightening its prey will
largely increase its chances of survival. In the case of such bottom
fishes as the flat-fishes, and the skates and rays, this advantage is
secured partly by a protective coloration, perhaps, and partly by
an extreme flattening out of the body of the fish. The skates and
rays are flattened in a vertical direction, but the flat-fishes are
strongly compressed from side to side; therefore we find in the
flat-fishes the unique condition that when in the natural position,
whether swimming horizontally through the water or resting on the
bottom, their upper and lower surfaces correspond in reality to
the sides of other fishes. By this sidewise flattening, the dorsal fin,
which runs along the middle line of the back, and the anal fin, which
runs along the mid-ventral line, are prominently brought out to the

)

“edges” of the fish and by this relative change in position become
capable of being used more directly in forward propulsion than is
the case with the unpaired fins of most fishes. Thus it would appear
that the problem of producing a powerful means of propulsion in a
fish which has to meet the requirements of the structural change
demanded by an existence confined almost exclusively to the bottom,
has been solved by nature in two different ways, viz.: in the case
of the skates and rays, by bringing about a great extension of the
pectoral fins as a result of a very considerable vertical compression
(this is accompanied by an almost complete disappearance of the un-
paired fins) ; and in the flat-fishes, by a mechanical adjustment result-
ing from an extreme lateral flattening, which gives a great mechanical
advantage to the unpaired fins. The whole of the flat posterior
portion of the body, as well as the broad, strong tail-fin, is used also

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 49

in forward propulsion. The greater efficiency of the swimming
apparatus which results from the lateral compression may be a
partial explanation of the greater speed in swimming and the greater
precision of movement which the flat-fishes show as compared with
the slow, clumsy, lumbering movements of the skates and rays.
This sidewise flattening of the fish and the fact that the fish in
its natural horizonital position must have one of its sides constantly
turned away from the light involve considerable modifications in its
structure. The unpaired fins increase in extent and area to the
degree corresponding to their increased importance in propulsion;
the dorsal fin extends forward onto the head nearly down to the
snout; the body cavity becomes so shortened that the anus is shifted
much further forward, and thus the anal fin is brought to extend
along all except a comparatively small fraction of the ventral edge
of the fish. The area of these fins is also increased by a lengthening
of the fin-rays. The paired fins, in most species, since from their
position they are of comparatively little use to the fish, have become
reduced or wanting. The tail-fin in many species has- become in-
creased in area and strengthened by a hypural bone. Changes in
pigmentation also occur; the pigmented area in most species is
entirely confined to the upper or light-exposed side, while the whole
under side becomes colorless like the ventral side of other fishes.
The color of the upper side is capable of considerable variation from
light to dark according to the prevailing shade of the background.
The mouth parts in some of the species have undergone changes.
In the fishes of the Turbot and Halibut tribes the jaws remain
unaffected by the change in position of the fish; in these, the mouth
is large, symmetrical, toothed around the whole border, and does
not partake of the twist of the remainder of the head. In the
Flounder tribe (Pleuronectine), that part of the mouth which belongs
to the eyed side has become somewhat contracted and twisted, but
on the under side the jaws remain straight and normally toothed.

In the case of the soles, the mouth has become very asymmetrical
7

50 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

and much distorted toward the blind side, and the teeth are very
small or obsolete.

The most remarkable of the structural changes which accompany
the sidewise modification of the body of the ’flat-fishes are the
changes which result in bringing the eye which normally belongs to
the side turned toward the bottom over onto the side that is exposed
to the light. Both eyes,-therefore, come to lie on the upper side of
the head; the fish thus loses its bilateral symmetry, and the head
acquires its peculiar twisted appearance. These changes are not
confined to the eye merely, but involve a considerable torsion of the
bones of the head, and an asymmetry of the nerves connected with
the displaced parts. These aspects of the asymmetry will be very
briefly referred to later, but for details, reference must be made to
special papers which deal with the osteology of the flat-fishes.

The degree of asymmetry in the different species is an adaptation
correlated with their habits. Those fishes like the halibut, sand-
dab, and summer flounder, which are the more free-swimming,
and which feed to a considerable extent on other fishes, are the more
symmetrical; the displaced eye is nearer the line of the profile, and
the mouth parts of the two sides are scarcely different. In the
forms like the winter flounder, which live more upon the bottom
and in the shallow water and which subsist largely on the bottom
invertebrates, and eat other fishes very little, the asymmetery
of the eyes has gone further, while the mouth has become
twisted toward the under side, and those portions of the jaws
which are on the upper side remain relatively undeveloped. It
is in the soles that the asymmetry of both eyes and mouth has
gone to its greatest extreme. These fishes live on the bottom almost
entirely, and probably obtam most of their food by grubbing in the
mud. The mouth in this species has become very much twisted.
From these facts it may be inferred that the asymmetry of the
mouth is independent and secondary to that of the eyes. The
asymmetry of the eyes is the result of the need of having both eyes
on the side toward the light, while the asymmetry of the mouth is a

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. ol

secondary adaptation to different external conditions and to different
methods of securing food.

The process by which the asymmetry of the eyes is reached in the
course of the development of the individual is an interesting one.

Young flat-fishes, when first hatched out from the egg, are sym-
metrical, and swim upright. A little later, while the bones of the
head are still in a cartilaginous condition, the fish turns over on one
side, and in the course of a few days the eye of the under side has
moved clear around so as to take up its position on the upper side.
The details of this transformation have been a subject of a lively
controversy for the last half century. Steenstrup (1863) first
studied the migration of the eye; he described it as sinking in
through the tissues of the head and coming out on the other side.
Malm (1868) maintained, on the contrary, that in the species ob-
served by him the eye which belonged to what was to become the
under side of the fish, moved over the profile of the head to take its
position on the upper side. After some years of controversy it was
found by Alexander Agassiz, and others, that both these early
investigators were right, and that each had described the process as
it actually seemed to take place in the species with which he was
working. It has, however, now been established that the process
does not essentially differ in either case; according to this view, the
asymmetry of the head is not primarily due to. the mere migration
of the eye from the under side of the head, but is the result of a
twisting of the whole ocular region of the head and involves an
extensive torsion of the bones of the orbital and preorbital region.
The process has been described as follows: “the whole of the
cranium in the region of the orbit rotates on its longitudinal axis
until the two eyes instead of occupying a horizontal plane have
assumed a vertical one’’* and one eye is dorsal to the other. At
least this seems to be true for species in which the development has
been completely worked out. If, at the time of metamorphosis, the

dorsal fin does not extend down over the frontal region of the head,

* Cole and Johnstone, Pleuronectes, L. M. B. C. Memoirs, 1901, 9.

o2 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

the torsion of the cranium carries the eye over the line of the profile;
in other species the dorsal fin has already extended down to the
snout before metamorphosis has taken place, and in this case the
eye has to pass under the tissues supporting the forward extension
of the dorsal fin and thus seems to pass from side to side through
the head.

The attempts to explain how these unique modifications in the
flat-fishes were brought about, probably originated with Lamarck
nearly one hundred years ago. As he was the first to conceive and
apply systematically a thoroughgoing theory of descent, no one
before him had ever recognized that there was any such problem as
the origin of the flat-fishes. In accordance with his theory of ‘‘use
and disuse,” he considered that the shifting of the position of the
flat-fishes was due to the fact that they acquired the habit of living
in shallow water, and then were forced to swim on their sides in order
to follow their prey near the shore; the eye on the lower side, as the
result of the constant straining upward toward the light, finally, in
the course of many generations, migrated over to the other side. <A
very similar explanation has been recently offered by Cunningham
(1897). ‘The action of the eye-muscles would probably have some
effect [in twisting the orbital region], and the weight of the fish,
resting on the ground, would force the lower eye-ball toward the
upper side, and so distort the face. In all probability both these
influences have contributed to the result.”” *He also suggests an ex-
planation of the forward extension of the median fins on the same
‘basis; the constant action of the numerous small muscles attached
to the fin-rays in the young fish would tend to differentiate an
increasing number of rays from the embryonic tissue ‘while the
direction of the muscular strains, the constant endeavor by muscular
contraction to draw forward the anterior ends of the fins, would
determine the direction of their extension. Thus the mode in which
the fins were used would produce in the course of generations the

bd

structure and relations which they now possess.’’ There are various

* Cunningham, Science Progress, 6. 1897, 502-3.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 53

objections to these hypotheses. Cole and Johnstone,* in an ex-
haustive paper on the anatomy and osteology of the Plaice (Pleu-
ronectes), have shown that the mechanical relations existing be-
tween the eye muscles and the bones of the frontal and prefrontal
region are such that the contraction of the eye-muscles could not
have caused the facial asymmetry. The suggestion that the weight
of the body of the fish when turned over on its side aided in pushing
the eye over onto the other side, apparently can not be invoked to
explains the appearance of asymmetery in the development of the
individual, at least, since there seems to be no particular tendency
on the part of the larval fishes to turn over on its side until after the
eye has begun its migration. This is true of some species at any
rate, for Williamsy states that the specimens which he captured and
kept in the laboratory during the metamorphosis showed in resting
no preference for either side until the eye was near the mid-line.
If it; seems unlikely that larval fishes could have been modified in
this way, it seems even more improbable that the hypothetical
symmetrical ancestor in the adult form when the bones and other
structures had become fixed should have become modified in any
such way. Objections of a more general nature against’ the above
explanations are the objections which can be alleged against any
theory involving the assumption of the inheritance of acquired
characters, but such detailed criticisms of this theory of course have
no place in this paper.

The question of the origin of the modifications of the flat-fishes
inevitably involves the general theories of evolution. Here it will
be possible, to consider only very briefly, the bearing of these theories
upon this problem. The development of the flat-fish, as briefly
outlined above, shows that the asymmetery does not express itself
outwardly until some days after the fish is out of the egg, yet there
is evidence which seems to substantially sanction the inference that
for its origin in ontogeny, the asymmetry goes back to the germ.
That there is some real difference between the organization of the

* Op. cit.
+Reference to the work cited will be found in the foot-note to page 79.

54 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

eges of the right-handed species and those of the left-handed species
is shown by the fact that the eggs of most of the right-sided species
have no oil-globule, while the eggs of most of the left-sided species
have a single oil-globule. This applies to the Flounder family only,
and is not true of the Soles (Solide). It is difficult to imagine that
the presence of the oil-globule has any reference to the external
conditions, since the eggs of all the species of flat-fishes (except those
of the Winter Flounders Pseudopleuronectes) are pelagic and, there-
fore, apparently at least, subject to similar sonditions. This appar-
ent relation between right and left-sidedness and the presence of the
oil-globule may, of course be a mere coincidence, yet the facts are
so striking that it does not seem to be doing violence to reasonable
inference if we believe that such a coincidence is a significant one
and based on a real difference in germinal structure. If this is true,
then the asymmetry of the fish must be inherent in the germ.

There is another line of evidence, of much greater force, which
seems to point unquestionably to the germ as the source of these
modifications. The relation of the optic nerves in the chiasma in
fishes has been studied by Prof. G. H. Parker. In the bony fishes
the optic nerves cross each other in the chiasma without any inter-
mingling of fibers. In the ordinary bony fishes it is apparently a
matter of chance whether the right or left nerve is above the other
in the chiasma. In 1,000 specimens of ten common species, 486 had
the left nerve uppermost and 514 the right nerve. In individual
species, similar figures hold true; for example in the haddock, 48
had the left nerve uppermost, and 52 the right nerve. In the
flounders, however, a different law holds true and the arrangement
of the nerves in the chiasma is not a matter of indifference. Of
flounders with eyes on the left side, 131 individuals, representing
nine species, all have the right nerve uppermost. Two hundred and
thirty dextral flounders, representing sixteen species, had the left
nerve uppermost. This is not true of the soles, however; in them
the arrangement of the chiasma is apparently a matter of chance as
in other bony fishes and has no relation with the asymmetry of the

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 55

fish. But in the case of flounders, it seems to be always'true that
the optic nerve growing out to form the eye that is later to migrate
over to the other side always passes above the other in the optic
chiasma. The only exception to this is in the case of reversed
flounders in which the relation of the nerves in the chiasma conforms
to that of the species and does not deviate with the exceptional
reversal. The case seems to be analogous to that of some of the
snails in which it is possible to trace the asymmetry back to the
eight-celled stage of the embryo, except that here, at the present
time at least, it is not possible to demonstrate the asymmetery at
nearly so early a stage.

It is the necessary implication of the Lamarckian hypothesis that
the adaptative modifications acquired through “use and disuse”
must appear in, and, originally at least, have their source in, that
stage in the development of the individual which is affected by the

change of environment; the ‘

‘use and disuse” of an organ or part
would not be called into play in any other stages, and so could not
directly produce modifications in them. Thus, in the case of flat-
fishes, the change to a bottom existence takes place after the free-
swimming stage has been assumed. Their modifications must be
adaptations to conditions of life first encountered in that stage and
can not be referred back for their origin to any earlier stage or to
the germ. Of course we must allow that the potentiality of pro-
ducing the modifications of the late stages must be present in the
earlier stages and in the germ, though there is no apparent reason
for assuming that the modifications themselves are projected back
to any earlier stage than that at which they are called out by the
reaction to the environment. No germinal modifications arising
in the egg itself is demanded in this case, for it encounters no new
conditions because the eggs of all flat-fishes (with one exception)
are pelagic and, therefore, subject to conditions which, as far as we
can see, are not different from those of many other fishes. Lamarckian
theories, then, as applied to the flat-fishes, must be considered to
imply that the modifications found in the adult have been superposed

06 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

upon the-original symmetrical constitution of the fish at some time
in the larval stage as a result of conditions acting on that stage.
If we look to the germ, then, we should find in it no evidences of
asymmetery, if the Lamarckian theory be the true hypothesis. But,
on the contrary, evidence adduced above has shown that there ig an
asymmetry in the egg which could not have been produced by
external forces and which appears at so early a stage that it could not
have been produced by the direct effect of ‘‘use and disuse.” The
argument of the Lamarckians, in order to escape from this difficulty
would be, of course, that the modifications of the larval and adult
stages, which had become fixed by the cumulative effect of repeated
actions, became reflected back into earlier and earlier stages until
finally the germinal organization itself had become definitely and
permanently affected. Of course there is no evidence at present
known which will enable anyone to deny positively that such might
be the case or that it might thus be capable of explaining the facts
in question, but it would certainly seem that the theory would have
to be stretched beyond its limits if we are required to believe that
if a flat-fish turns over on its right side until the tendency became
fixed, the effect of this process on the germinal structure would be to
produce an oil-globule in the egg, while if the fish turns over on its
left side through a sufficient number of generations, the effect is
such as to produce no oil-globule in the egg. It is scarcely less
difficult to admit that the asymmetry having become fixed in
the larva and adult stages as a result of voluntary attempts at
adaptation through a series of generations might become reflected
back into such a very early period in the germ as to affect the direc-
tion of the growth of the eye-stalk which, at any time, is only in-
directly affected by “use and disuse” and only at a very much later
stage. But even if we admit this as a possibility, it seems difficult
to reconcile this hypothesis with the condition found in the soles, in
which the asymmetry has gone considerably further, but has not been
able to bring about any constant relation of the optic nerves in the

chiasma.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. o7

Thus the Lamarckian explanations of the asymmetry of the flat-
fishes seem to be difficult to accept, since the necessary mechanical
requirements are not met by the bone and muscle arrangements of
the head, and because it is difficult to consider the “fuse and disuse”
theory as accounting satisfactorily for the evidences of asymmetry
in the germinal organization. The more fundamental difficulties
which are inherent in any Lamarckian hypothesis would, if it were
possible to consider them here, give still greater force to these objec-
tions. It is sufficient to say that the lack of evidence in support of
alleged cases of inheritance of acquired characters gives such force
to the @ priori objections to that theory that, on general grounds
alone, we would be justified in rejecting Lamarckian explanations of
the origin of the modifications of the flat-fishes.

A much more satisfactory hypothesis to account for the structural
modifications of the flat-fishes is that furnished by the theory of
natural selection. This theory as applied to the flat-fishes can be
accepted at the present time with much better grace than was
possible before the theory of mutation had been suggested. The
flat-fishes present a problem which is an excellent example of a class
of cases which have long been a béte noir to the theory of natural
selection. It has not been easy, previously, to understand how
slight tendencies of symmetrical fishes to assume other than the
upright position could confer upon their possessors such advantages
in the struggle for existence that natural selection could have been
an effective factor in causing their survival. But according to the
mutation theory we may assume that a considerable degree of the
characteristic modification of flat-fishes was produced all at once as a
result of some alteration in the structure of the germ cell; this is
consistent with the facts of the case, since evidence adduced above
indicates that we are to look for the source of the origin of these
characters in the germ cell. These changes or mutations might be
great enough to make the new form differ from the old so far that it
was enabled to secure a somewhat greater advantage in the struggle

for existence by becoming more closely adapted to a bottom existence
8

58 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

than the old forms and thus to appropriate for itself a hitherto
unclaimed field for its home. Thus natural selection could act and
allow the new forms to become permanent. These early modifica-
tions having been established, further changes then may be assumed
to have arisen by continued mutation and become fixed by natural
selection and ultimately to have produced the great variety of
existing species and their adaptation to the varying conditions of
bottom existence.

According to this theory, the ultimate source of the modifications
of the flat-fishes is to be looked for in the germ cell and in the unknown
factors which caused essential changes in the germinal structure of the
egg of the symmetrical ancestor of the flat-fishes. Just what this
change was, to what cause it was originally referable, how the
structure of the germ-cell of the asymmetrical fishes differs from that
of the symmetrical fishes, such questions must be left until the theory
of evolution by mutation has so far advanced that it can show how
mutations result from the conditions which influence germinal
structure.

From the systematic point of view, the flat-fishes are grouped
together as a suborder called the Heterosomata; they are further
divided into two families, the Flounder family (Pleuronectide) and
the Sole family (Solidw). The so-called American Sole is the only
common representative of the Sole family in American North Atlantic
waters; all the other common flat-fishes belong to the Flounder
family. The species belonging to the Flounder family may be
grouped into three sub-groups or tribes, the Halibut tribe (Hippo-
glossine), the Flounder tribe (Pleuronectine), and the Turbot tribe
(Psettine). Their classification may be put into synoptic form as
follows:

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 59

/ / HIPPOGLOSSIN.®.
(Halibut, Summer Flounder,
Four-spotted Flounder,
Rusty Dab.)
\
}

( PLEURONECTIN.®.

HETEROSOMATA. | PLEURONECTID &. (Winter Flounder, Rusty
(The Flat-Fishes.) \\ (The Flounders.) Flat-Fish.)
PSETTIN-E.

(Window-Pane.)

SOLEID.®. ACHIRIN®.
(The Soles.) (American Sole).

The ancestry and kinship of the flat-fishes are wholly uncertain.
They have usually been placed with the cod-fishes, and it has been
assumed that both these groups have descended from some common
or nearly related form; it is, however, with much reason that Dr.
Boulenger has recently called attention to the close relationship of
the flat-fishes to the Zeoidea (the John Dories, or Zeus-like fishes),
and he suggested that both these types may have descended from a
common stock.

There are some interesting facts regarding the geographical dis-
tribution of the various species of the flat-fishes. The fishes of the
Flounder tribe (Pleuronectine) and almost all of the Halibut tribe
(Hippoglossine) are arctic and antarctic in their distribution; the
species belonging to the Turbot tribe (Psettine) are nearly all con-
fined to warm water. Since all the fishes of the Turbot tribe, and
those of the Halibut tribe which are found in warm water are left-
sided species, while the cold-water halibuts and all of the Flounder
tribe are right-sided species, it follows that nearly all the warm-
water flounders are left-sided species and the cold-water flounders
are right-sided. This peculiar relation may be a coincidence merely,
but it is certainly very remarkable that we should find the
Summer Flounder and the Four-Spotted Flounder and a few other
species of that group to be left-sided and in warm water, while the

majority of the fishes of that tribe are right-sided and inhabit cold

60 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

water, and that this should agree exactly with the conditions in the
Turbot tribe, on the one hand, and the Flounder tribe on the
other. There are some of the Californian flat-fishes which, as we
might perhaps expect, may perhaps be considered to form transition
groups; some species of those waters are right-sided and some are
left-sided, and in some species it seems to be true that the fishes
are indifferently right or left, or at least reversed individuals are
common. These interesting facts suggest to us that natural selection
may favor sinistral fishes in the tropics and dextral fishes in cold
water. It is difficult to imagine this, though right- and left-handed-
ness may be dependent on conditions in the environment of which
we know nothing.

Another remarkable condition is the relation which seems to
exist between the number of vertebrz possessed by the various
species and their grographical distribution. It is true of other groups
of fishes that in some cases their northern representatives have an
increased number of vertebrze, but this relation is shown in a strking
way in the Flounder family. The following are the averages of the
numbers of vertebrze found in the species of the three tribes of the
Flounder family:

Flounder Tribe (Pleuronectine).
Average number of vertebrz in 13 species, 42.
All these species live in northern waters.
Halibut Tribe (Hippoglossine).
Average number of vertebrze in 15 species, 41.
Of these 15 species, 4 are cold water and 9 occur along the Californian
and Middle Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

Turbot Tribe(Psettine).

Average number of vertebrie in 20 species, 34.6.

These are tropical or sub-tropical species.

The causes of this remarkable relation are not fully understood.
It has been suggested that the reduction in the number of vertebrie
of the warm-water species is a result of the higher specialization
demanded of those fishes living in the tropics where the struggle for

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 61

existence is more strenuous, because of the greater abundance of
life in those waters.

In Rhode Island waters are found eight species of flat-fishes which
represent the chief groups of the suborder Heterosomata. The

technical description of the tribes, genera, and species follows :*

A. PLEURONECTIDAE. The Flounder Family.

Preopercula margin distinct, and not hidden by scales; eyes large

and well separated; mouth large or moderate; teeth present.

I. HIPPOGLOSSIN®. The Halibut Tribe.

Large mouthed flounders with ventral fins symmetrical; jaws and
teeth neary equal on both sides. Pectoral and ventral fins well
developed, the ventral fins similar in position and in form of base,
the ventral fin of the eyed-side and not being attached along the

ridge of the abdomen.

HIPPOGLOSSUS. Halibut.

Eyes and color on the right side. Form oblong, not strongly com-
pressed. Mouth wide, oblique; teeth in the upper jaw in two series,
those below in one; anterior teeth in upper jaw and lateral teeth in
lower, strong; no teeth on vomer or palatines; lower pharyngeal
teeth in two rows. Dorsal fin beginning above the eye, its middle
rays elevated, the posteral rays of dorsal and anal bifid; cordal fin
lunate; ventral fins both lateral. Seales very small, cycloid; lateral
line arched in front. Gill rakers few, short, compressed, wide set,
vertebre 164-34. Largest of the flounders.

1. Hippoglossus hippoglossus. The Halibut.

Body elongate, not strongly compressed, deep mesially; head
broad; eyes large, separated by a very broad flattish area; the lower
eye slightly advanced; mouth large, maxillary reaching middle of
orbit. Depth of body one-third its total length; head moderately

*The technical description of these fishes has been taken from ‘‘The Fishes of North
America,” by Jordan and Evermann.

62 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

long, its length contained 3? times in total length. D. 105; A. 78;
P. 19; V. 6; scales 150+. Color, nearly uniform dark brown;
blind side white.

HIPPOGLOSSIDES.

Eyes and color on the right side. Body oblong, moderately com-
pressed; mouth rather large, with one row of sharp teeth on each
jaw; no teeth on vomer or palatines; gill rakers rather long and
slender; scales ctenoid; lateral line straight; dorsal fin low in front,
beginning over or before the eye; ventrals both lateral; caudal double

truncate, produced behind.

2. Hippoglossoides piatessoides, The Rough Dab.

Body ovate; mouth moderate, oblique; maxillary narrow, reach-
ing to below pupil, 23 in length of head; teeth rather small, conical,
larger anterior in one row in each jaw, those in the lower largest.
Eyes rather large; the lower jaw included, but with a projecting
knob at the chin; snout thick, scaly. Interorbital space narrow,
with a raised obtuse ridge entirely covered with rough scales in about
six series; mandible with a series of scales; gill rakers rather short
and robust, not toothed, about ten below angle, the longest less than
one-third length of eye; fins with small, rough scales; a strong
preanal spine; pectoral not quite one-half length of head. Head
contained 3} times in length of body; depth, 25 times in body. D.88;

A. 70; scales 90 (pores). Color reddish brown, nearly plain.

PARALICHTHYS.

Eves and color on left side. Body oblong; mouth large, oblique;
each jaw with a single row of usually slender and sharp teeth,
which are more or less enlarged anteriorly; no teeth on vomer or
palatine. Gill rakers slender. Scales small, weakly ctenoid or
ciliated; lateral lines simple, arched anteriorly. Dorsal fin beginning

before the eye, its anterior rays not produced; both ventrals lateral;

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 63

caudal fin double truncate, or double concave, its middle rays pro-

duced; no anal spine.

3. Paralichthys dentatus. The Swmmer Flounder.

Head contained 34 to 4 in body; depth 2 2-5; caudal 14. D. 86-
91; A. 65-71; lateral line 108 (tubes). Body ovate; maxillary
reaching past posterior margin of eye; mouth large, oblique, the
gape curved. Canines large, conical, wide set; gill rakers compara-
tively long and slender, longest two-thirds eye, 5 + 15 to 6 + 18 in
number; interorbital area a rather flattish ridge, in the adult about
equal to vertical diameter of eye, narrower in the young, forming a
bony ridge; scales cycloid, each with numerous small accessory
scales; vertebre 11 + 380. Color in life, light olive brown; adults
were very numerous, small white spots on body and vertical fins;
sometimes a series of larger white spots along basis of dorsal and
anal fins; about 14 ocellated dark spots on side, these sometimes
little conspicuous, but always present; a series of four or five along
base of dorsal, and three or four along base of anal, those of the two
series opposite, and forming pairs; two pairs of smaller less distinct
spots midway between these basal series and the lateral line
anteriorly, with a small one on lateral line in the center between
them; a large distinct spot on lateral line behind middle of straight
portion; fins without the round dark blotches.

4. Paralichthys oblongus. Il our-spotted Flounder.

Head contained four times its body; depth 21 of body. D. 72;
A. 60; Scales 93. Body comparatively elongate, strongly com-
pressed. Eyes large, nearly four in head, separated by a prominent,
narrow, sharp ridge. Upper jaw with very numerous small, close-
set teeth laterally, and four or five canines in front; the lateral teeth
abruptly smaller than the anterior; each side of lower jaw with
seven to ten teeth. Chin prominent. Maxillary narrow, reaching
past middle of pupil, 24 in length of head. Gape curved; gill rakers
short and toothed behind, 2 + 8. Scales weakly ctenoid or cycloid.

64 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Dorsal low, beginning over front of eye, some of the anterior rays
exserted, but not elongate the longest rays behind middle of fin, not
quite one-half head; anal spine obsolete. Grayish, thickly mottled
with darker and somewhat translucent; four large, horizontally
oblong, black ocelli, each surrounded by a pinkish area, one just
behind middle of the body below the dorsal, one opposite this above
anal, two similar smaller spots below last rays of dorsal and above

last of anal.
II. PLEURONECTIN®. The Flounder Tribe.

Mouth small, unsymmetrical, the jaws on the eyed-side with
nearly straight outline, the bones on the blind strongly curved;
dentition chiefly developed on the blind side; eyes large; pectoral
fins well developed; vertical fins well separated; ventral fins nearly
or quite symmetrical, that of the eyed-side not prolonged along the
ridge of the abdomen; anal spine usually strong. Body dextral.

LIMANDA.

Teeth chiefly uniserial; lateral line with a distinct arch in front,
and without accessory dorsal branch; scales imbricated, rough
etenoid; vertebre about 40. Differs from Pseudopleuronectes by
the arch in the lateral line.

5. Limanda ferruginea. Rusty Dab.

Head 4 in length, depth 2 1-5. D. 85; A. 62; Scales 100. Body
ovate-elliptical, strongly compressed; teeth small, conical, close-set,
in a single series on each side in each Jaw, about 11 + 30 in the lower
jaw; snout projecting, forming a strong angle above upper eye,
with descending profile; gill rakers of moderate length, very weak,
not toothed; eyes moderate; the lower slightly in advance of upper,
separated by a high very narrow ridge, which is scaled posteriorly,
_and is continued backward as an inconspicuous but rough ridge to the

beginning of the lateral line; scales imbricate, nearly uniform, those

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 65

on the right side rough ctenoid, those on the left side nearly or
quite smooth; scales on body rougher than cheeks; caudal pedun-
cle short, higher than long; dorsal inserted over eye, its middle
rays highest; pectoral less than two-fifths head; caudal rounded;
anal spine present; lateral line simple, with a rather low arch in
front; a concealed spine behind ventrals; ventral of colored side
partly lateral, the other wholly so; anal spine strong. Brownish
olive, with numerous, irregular, reddish spots; fins similarly marked;
left side with caudal fin, caudal peduncle, and margins of dorsal and
anal fins lemon yellow.

PSEUDOPLEURONECTES.

Body oblong; the scales firm, strongly ctenoid on eyed side in
both sexes; fin rays scaly; mouth small; teeth uniserial, incisor-
like, close set, all more or less blunt; the lower pharyngeals very
narrow, each with two rows of separate, conical teeth. This genius
is distinguished from Limanda, which it closely resembles, by the

want of arch in the lateral line.

6. Pseudopleuronectes americanus. T'he Winter Flounder.

Head four times in length; depth 24. D. 65; A. 48; Scales 83.
Body elliptical; an angle above eye. Head covered above with
imbricated, strongly ctenoid scales, similar to those on the body;
blind side of head nearly naked; interorbital space rather broad,
strongly convex, its width one-half eye, entirely scales; teeth com-
pressed incisor-like, widened toward tips, close set, forming a con-
tinuous cutting edge; some of teeth often emarginate, sometimes
movable; right side of each jaw toothless. Highest dorsal raised
less than length of pectorals, and more than one-half length of head;
anal spines present. Dark rusty brown, spotted or nearly plain;

young are olive brown, more or less spotted and blotched with reddish.

Ill. PSETTINA.

Large mouthed flounders, with the ventral fins unsymmetrical.

Mouth symmetrical; gape wide; lower pharyngeals narrow, with
9

66 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

rows of small sharp teeth; teeth on jaws, acute; eyes not minute;
pectorals and ventrals well developed; ventral fins dissimilar in
form and position, that of the left side inserted on the ridge of the
abdomen, its base extended along this ridge, its rays more or less
wide apart; vertebrz in moderate or sma!l number, 31 to 45. Body

sinistral. Species chiefly tropical or subtropical.

LOPHOPSETTA.

Eyes and color on the left side. Body broadly ovate, strongly
compressed, pellucid; mouth large, oblique, the maxillary reaching
to beyond eye; teeth subequal, in narrow bands, or in single series;
a small patch of teeth on the vomer. Scales small, cycloid, imbricate,
the skin without bony tubercles. Lateral line strongly arched in
front, without accessory branch. Dorsal fin beginning on the snout,
its anterior rays exserted; anal fin not preceded by a spine; ventral
of left side free from anal inserted nearly on the ridge of the abdomen,
its base broad, the rays well separated; pectoral and ventral fins
moderate. Nearly related to the European genus Bothus, and to
the European Turbot, Psetta.

7 Lophopsetta maculata. The Window Pane or the Sand Dab.

Head 34 in length; depth 13-5. D.65; A. 52; Scales 85. Body
broadly rhomboid, strongly compressed, translucent in life; mouth
large, the maxillary reaching nearly to posterior margin of eye, maxil-
lary of eyed side with a bony tubercle on its anterior end; Jaws sub-
equal, the lower with a sharp knob at symphysis; teeth in each jaw
in one series laterally, in a very narrow band in front; interorbital
space rather broad, slightly concave, its posterior third or fourth with
scales; gill rakers short and slender, about 8 + 25; maxillary,
mandibles, snout, and the greater part of interorbital naked; scales
on head and body cyeloid, loosely imbricated, those on the blind
side a little smaller. Anterior rays of dorsal produced, their ends

branched and free, the first on tip of snout, the rays at the beginning

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 67

of posterior third of fin the highest; origin of anal directly under
angle of preopercle; base of ventrals long, that of the eyed side ex-
tending along ridge of body from notch in isthmus to front of anal,
base of ventral on blind side shorter; pectoral reaching past curve
on eyed side, its mate much smaller; cordal rather long. Color light
olive brown, almost translucent, everywhere marbled with paler,
and with many small, irregular, sharply defined black spots; dorsal,
anal, and caudal with larger, round, blended spots of dark brown;

pectoral with brown, interrupted cross lines.
B. SOLEIDAE.

Body oblong or elongate, usually scaly; mouth very small, much
twisted toward the eyed side; the teeth in villiform bands, very small ,
or obsolete; eyes small, close together, with or without a bony ridge
between them; edge of preopercle adnate, concealed by the skin and
scales; the gill openings narrow, the gill membranes adnate to the
shoulder girdle above; pectoral fins small or wanting; ventral fins
small, one or both sometimes wanting. Vertebrze usually in in-
creased numbers. Similar to the Pleuronectide in structure, but
much degraded, the fins and teeth having lost many of their dis-
tinctive qualities. They are naturally divisible into three sub-
families, each quite distinct from the others, and possibly independ-

ently descended or degraded from normal Pleuronectide.

ACHIRUS.

Eyes and color on the right side. Body oblong, bluntly rounded
anteriorly. Head small; eyes small, close together, the upper eye
in advance of the lower, the two separated by a bony ridge; mouth
small, somewhat turned toward the colored side; nasal flaps present,
the nostril of the blind side fringed; lip of the colored side fringed;
teeth very small, on blind side only; the gill openings rather narrow,
but confluent below, not reduced to a slit; the branchiostegal region

scaled. Head closely scaled everywhere; scales on the blind side

68 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

anteriorly with their pectinations more or less produced forming
cirri; scales with both sides extremely rough, extending on the fins.
Lateral lines straight, simple; edge of preopercle covered by the
seales. Dorsal beginning on the snout, low in front and thickly
sealed, its rays divided; anal fin similar without spine; caudal fin
convex; caudal peduncle very short and deep; pectoral fin of left
side wanting, that of right side small or obsolete; ventral rays three
or four, the ventral fin of the colored side long, connected with anal
by membrane.

8. Achirus fasciatus. The American Sole.

Head 4 in body; depth 14-5. D. 50-55; A. 37-46; Scales 66-75.
Body broad, irregularly elliptical; mouth moderate, reaching Just
past front of lower eye; right lower lip fringed; eyes very small, the
upper one in advance of the lower; nostril ending in a wide tube,
nearer lower eye than tip of snout; interorbital space with scales,
more than one-half eye; head and body scaled with strongly ctenoid
scales, none of them with hair-like appendages; lateral line nearly
straight; gill opening short, about twice as long as maxillary. Origin
of dorsal on tip of snout; last few rays of dorsal and anal rapidly
decreasing, giving the fins a truncate appearance posteriorly; pec-
torals wholly wanting; caudal rounded. Color dusky olive, more or
less mottled, and with about eight dark, vertical stripes, these
varying very much in width and in number; blind side often with
round, dark spots, specially northern specimens usually immaculate
in southern ones. Vertebre 8 + 20.

The following artificial key, based on the most obvious external

characters, may be useful in distinguishing these species:
A.—RIGHT-SIDED SPECIES.
I. MOUTH LARGE, SYMMETRICAL.

1. The Halibut.

Lateral line with an arch in front; size

very large; scales smooth.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 69

2. The Rough Dab.

Lateral line straight; scales rough;

length 20 inches or less.

II. MOUTH NOT LARGE, UNSYMMETRICAL, AND AT END OF SNOUT.

3. The Rusty Flat—Fish.

Lateral line with arch in front.

4. The Winter Flounder.

Lateral line straight.

III. MOUTH VERY SMALL, VERY UNSYMMETRICAL, THE SNOUT PRO—

JECTING BEYOND THE MOUTH.

5. The American Sole.

Dusky olive in color, mottled, with
several dark vertical stripes; the
under side usually has a large

number of round, dark spots.

B.—LEFT-SIDED SPECIES. |

I. VENTRAL FINS NOT ON THE RIDGE OF THE ABDOMEN; BODY OBLONG,

COLOR DARK.

6. The Summer Flounder.

Color olive brown, profusely mottled
with white, dark and _ ocellated
spots.

7. The Four-Spotted Flounder.

Color grayish, mottled with darker

spots; four large, oblong, black,

ocellated spots on posterior half
of body.

70 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Il. VENTRAL FIN OF LEFT SIDE PLACED NEARLY ON THE RIDGE OF
ABDOMEN, BODY OVATE AND EXTREMELY THIN.

8. The Window Pane or Sand Dab.

Light olive brown in color, translucent,
marbled with paler and with many
small dark spots.

The remainder of this paper is intended to present, as fully as space
will allow, the most important facts which have been ascertained
regarding the life history and life conditions of those individual
species of flat-fishes which are present in Rhode Island waters.

Pictures of these species are shown in Plates I to [X.*

iweb dYoVoiVs; VMN.
(Hippoglossus hippoglossus.)
Puave I.

I. Distribution and Habitat. The natural habitat of the halibut
is in the cold water of the northern seas; it is widely distributed
along both shores of the North Atlantic and the North Pacific, and
it ranges well up into the Arctic regions. The water in which it is
most frequently found is never of a higher temperature than 45° F.,
and often but little above 32° F. The northern limit of its range has
never been determined; it occurs along the whole west coast of
Greenland, is abundant at Iceland and Spitzbergen, and has been
observed on both sides of the North Cape. In the Pacific, halibut
are most abundant in the Gulf of Alaska, and they have been taken
as far north as Behring Straits. There is no reason for doubting
that the southern shores of the Arctic Ocean along both continents

* Plates I to VI and Plate VIII and IX are reproduced from Goode’s ‘* Natural History of
Aquatic Animals,’’ 1884; Plate VII is reproduced from ‘‘American Food and Game Fishes,”
1902, by Jordan and Evermann.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 71

are inhabited by this species. Its usual southward range on the
European coast is to the English Channel, but stray specimens have
sometimes been taken in deep water off the coast of France. On
the American coast of the Atlantic, its natural southerly limit is
Cape Cod, but occasional individuals wander southward to Sandy
Hook. It is said that halibut were formerly quite abundant about
Vineyard Sound and Block Island, but for many years they have been
very rare south of Cape Cod. There is no record of a capture of a
halibut south of Sandy Hook, where several large ones have been
saptured in winter. On the Pacific coast, they range southward to
the Farallones off San Francisco. The geographical range of the
halibut coincides closely with that of the cod, though the latter is
somewhat less confined to cold, since it ranges 4° or 5° F. further
south; the cod, also, in winter is very abundant off the southern
shore of New England where the halibut is very rare, while the
halibut also strays further out into deeper and colder water than the
cod.

In Rhode Island waters only a few instances of the capture of
halibut have been recorded in the last quarter of a century. In
February, 1876, a few were taken about eight miles from the south-
east point of Block Island; on May 1, 1876, off Watch Hill, an eighty-
pound halibut was taken, the first in that vicinity for many years;
during that same month many halibut were taken about ten miles
southeast of Montauk Point; one or two in the last sixty years have
been taken off the outer shore of Fisher’s Island; on April 16, 1900,
a one-hundred-pound halibut was brought to Newport which had
been captured with others off Block Island by a cod fisherman.

The normal habitat of the halibut is upon the offshore banks and
the edges of the continental slope; it is found in all depths ranging
from shoal water near shore out to a depth of three hundred fathoms
or more. It seems to be most abundant at considerable depths,
from fifty to one hundred fifty fathoms.

In the course of the last century the center of the abundance of

“

this species seems to have shifted many times. A hundred years

G2 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

ago halibut were exceedingly abundant in Massachusetts bay.*
From 1830 to 1850 they were very abundant on George’s Banks;
since 1850 they have partially disappeared from this region, and
the fishermen have been constantly following them to other banks
and out into deeper and deeper water. Since 1874 the fisheries have
been carried on almost exclusively in the gulleys between the off-
shore banks and on the outer edges of the banks in water one hundred
to three hundred fifty fathoms in depth.

II. Migrations. Very little is definitely known regarding the
migrations of the halibut. Throughout the year they are present
on tle edges of all the banks from George’s to the Grand Bank in
deep water from a hundred to two hundred and fifty fathoms.
Whatever annual migrations they undertake are probably not ex-
tensive, but, as far as ean be ascertained, are limited to relatively
small movements between deep and shallow water according to the
seasonal changes of the temperature. The only consideration
pointing definitely to such a movement is the fact that during
winter and early spring halibut are sometimes found to be more
numerous in shallow water. They are also found further south dur-
ing the colder months of the year, as is shown by the fact that the
months from February to May include the only authentically re-
corded cases of halibut in water south of Cape Cod. This seasonal
movement, however, can be only very slight in extent, and apparently
does not take place with any regularity.

In the preceding section, mention was made of the fact that there
is a larger, more extensive, movement, in which the halibut are
moving constantly into deeper and deeper water. The only expla-
nation suggested for this is that the halibut live in large schools, and
as soon as they have exhausted the food supply in any particular
locality, they, move on to fresh feeding grounds. None of their
migrations have any apparent connection with their reproductive
activity.

Ill. Reproduction. Comparatively little is known with regard

* Goode, Na. Hist. of Aquatic Animals, 1884.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 73

to the spawning habits of the halibut. The testimony of observers
seems to indicate a spawning season in American waters lasting
through the summer and into the autumn. On the European coast,
according to Cunningham, the halibut spawns from April to August,
and the period may extend somewhat in both directions.*

Ripe eggs of the halibut have been seen only rarely, while the
fertilized eggs of this species are entirely unknown. “McIntosht
describes some fresh and apparently ripe eggs which were taken in
May, 1892. Their diameter ranged from 3.07 mm. to 3.81 mm.
(3-20 inch). The yolk was colorless and translucent; there. was no
oil globule. The capsule egg was very thin and collapsable. An-
other sample of ripe eggs was secured the same year; these averaged
from 3.4 mm. to 3.7 mm. in diameter. On the 5th of May, 1893,
half a gallon of ripe eggs was obtained from a fish from Bergen Bank;
the diameter of these averaged from 3.08 mm. to 3.8 mm. These
eggs were apparently buoyant when alive; they are thus perhaps
the largest pelagic eggs known. As yet there is no record that any
scientist has ever examined ripe eggs of halibut from American
waters.

The earliest known stage of the halibut is that described by Dr.
Peterson of the Danish Zodlogical Station. It was procured in
Christiansand; it measured 32 mm. (1 3-8 inch). This was still in
the free-swimming condition, as was indicated by the position of the
left eye, which had only just commenced to move forward and up-
ward; it had 104 rays in the dorsal fin, 88 in its anal, 22 in its caudal;
the mouth was large and the gill cover had a row of spines. ft

Young halibut about 12 inches long, 3 3-4 inches across at the
widest part, have occasionally been found in the water of shallow
bays, like that of St. Andrews; this seems to indicate that after
passing their earliest stages in deep water, they seek shallow water
for a certain portion, at least, of their adolescent period, and then

* Marketable Marine Fishes, 1896, 243.
+ British Marine Food-Fishes, 1897, 315.
t British Marine Food Fishes, 1897, 318. This specimen was first mentioned by Collet in
his ‘‘Norges Fiske” (Plate XII, Fig- 10).
10

74 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

pass back again to the deep water in their adult condition. In color,
the young forms mentioned above are dull olive marbled with darker
blotches, and also with reddish spots and touches on the body and
fins. In America none of the young stages have been recorded.

Nothing is known of the rate of growth of the halibut. The
smallest known specimen from our coast was about five inches long;
this was dredged by Prof. Verril in the Strait of Canso.

IV. Food. The halibut is, like the cod, a voracious and om-
nivorous feeder. The most important portion of their diet probably
consists of crustaceans like crabs, lobsters, ete., and molluses, such
as clams, muscles, snails, etc. They also feed largely upon fishes,
particularly flat-fish and flounders. Young cod, haddock, and cusk,
are also very commonly eaten by them. Young halibut feed upon
shrimp and young flat-fishes.

V. Size. The halibut is among the largest of the bony fishes;
it is surpassed in size only by the swordfish, the horse mackerel and
tarpon. The male is said to be seldom over fifty pounds in weight, .
while the average sized female is probably between 100 and 150
pounds. A number of exceptionally large individuals are authen-
tically recorded. In July, 1879, two individuals were taken near
Race Point, one of which weighed 359 pounds, the other 401 pounds.
Goode states that he has record of ten or twelve taken on the New
England coast between 1870 and 1880, each of which weighed be-
tween 300 and 400 pounds. Nilsson, the Swedish ichthyologist,
mentions a halibut taken on that coast which weighed 720 pounds.

THE ROUGH DAB.
(Hippoglossoides platessoides.)

Puate II.

I. Distribution and Habitat. In its range and distribution this
species is much like the halibut. It is found on both coasts of the
Atlantic, and from the arctic regions ranges south to Long Island

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES, 75

and the coast of England. It is common in forty fathoms of water
off the coast of Iceland. Its habitat is, however, more limited than
that of the halibut, since it occurs only in rather deep water; it is
rarely taken from water less than twenty fathoms, but on the other
hand it does not descend to such great depths, since it is not known
to be present beyond eighty fathoms. It is a rather common food:
fish in northern waters, particularly in England and Scandinavia,
though it is never very abundant anywhere. In summer it is found
only in deep water, but in winter it approaches nearer the coast. It
is not abundant enough in Rhode Island waters to make it of any
importance in this locality as a food fish. It has doubtless been
taken in winter many times without being discriminated by the
fishermen from other species; it is not unusual in deep water off
southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is not common at
Woods Hole, though it has been taken in winter in shallow water.”

Il. Reproduction. For practically all our knowledge regarding
the habits of this fish we are indebted to European observers. The
following account of its eggs and spawning habits is on the authority
of McIntosh and Masterman,f and of course refers to observations
on the European variety (limandoides). In British waters specimens
of this species with ripe eggs are found from February to May, and
are most numerous in March. On the Scandinavian coast the
spawning season is apparently during February and March.

The eggs of this species had been known since 1884, but were not
definitely identified until 1895. The egg is buoyant and translucent,
and when first extruded from the oviduet measures about 1.2 mm.
(1-20 inch). After being in sea water for about twelve hours, a
considerable amount of water is taken up inside the outer capsule
so that the diameter of the egg increases and becomes about 1.8 mm.
(1-14 inch). The eggs hatch in about fourteen days.

Ill. Food. Inthe tenth Report of the Scottish Board of Fisheries
are given the results of examination of the contents of 569 stomachs

'* Proc. U. S. Mus., 1880, 471.
t+ Smith, Fishes of Woods Hole, Bull. U. S. Fish Com., 1897, 108.

76 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

of this species taken from the Firth of the Fourth. The different
kinds of marine animals found occurred in the following percentages:
crustacea in 44 per cent. (shrimp of various kinds, hermit crabs,
swimming crabs); echinoderms in 22 per cent. (sandstars, brittle
stars, common starfish); fishes in 14 per cent. (gobies, whitings,
voung dabs); marine worms in 9 per cent.; molluscs in 6 per cent.*

IV. Size. In American waters this fish exceptionally reaches a
length of 20 to 24 inches; its weight ranges from 2 to 5 pounds.
Dr. Fulton found that off the east coast of Scotland the smallest
ripe male was 5 inches long, while the average length of mature
males was 6.5. The smallest ripe female was 5 inches long, the
largest 16.5 inches, with an average length of 8.8 inches.

THE SUMMER FLOUNDER.

(Paralichthys dentatus.)

Puate III.

I. Distribution and Habitat. This fish is confined to the American
coast of the Atlantic, and is more particularly a warm-water fish
than most of the common species of the family. It ranges from
Cape Cod to Florida, though it is rare south of Charleston. The
center of its abundance seems to be in the waters about Rhode Island,
Connecticut, and Long Island, where it is taken in very large numbers
during the summer.

The fish of this species begin to appear in inshore waters in May
and are taken in water from 2 to 20 fathoms in depth until October.
They then move out into deeper water for the winter. Unlike
the winter flounder, which has a preference for grassy and muddy
bottoms, the fishes of this species are apparently more abundant
where the bottom is sandy. They are somewhat gregarious in their
habits, but like most of the species of this family, they do not possess
this tendency in any marked degree. Their movements are probably

* Cunningham, op. cit., 244

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. CE

adjusted in accordance with seasonal changes of temperature and
also with the variations in the abundance of food in particular
localities.

II. Reproduction. Practically nothing is known of the breeding
habits of this species. It has never been found with mature eggs,
nor is there any record that anyone has ever seen any of the younger
stages. Goode states that the smallest specimens certainly known
were eight or nine inches in length. The above considerations seem
to indicate the probability that the summer flounder spawns in
deep water away from the shores in the winter, and that the young
do not enter shallow water until they have reached an advanced
stage of development.

Ill. Food. Their food is like that of most of the flat-fishes; it
consists of small fishes, crustaceans, molluses, sand-dollars and
squid. Specimens taken from trap usually have such fishes as
butter-fish and scup in their stomachs, though these they have
probably eaten from necessity on account of the artificial conditions
under which they are confiued.

IV. Size. The average length is from 16 to 30 inches, and the
average weight about 24 pounds. Exceptionally it reaches a length

of 3 feet and a weight of 15 pounds.

THE FOUR SPOTTED FLOUNDER.

(Paralichthys oblongus.)
PLarw TV:

I. Distribution and Habitat. The limits of the geographical range
of this species have never been very accurately determined. Its
distribution is apparently very limited, since it is not recorded south
of New York and has been taken only very rarely north of Cape Cod.
In 1877 a single specimen was captured at the mouth of Salem
harbor by the United States Fish Commission. It is said to be
most abundant on the coast of New York and the neighboring

78 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

islands. In Rhode Island it is taken somewhat frequently in outside
waters, but is only rarely found in Narragansett Bay. May, June,
and early July are the only months in the year when it approaches
near enough to the shore to be taken in the fish-traps. At Woods
Hole, it is stated by Dr. Smith that this species is most abundant
in June, particularly about the time of the scup run. Its normal
habitat is in somewhat deeper water than that of the preceding
species; according to Goode, it is the most abundant in 10 to 20
fathoms of water. Several specimens of this species were taken in
100 fathoms of water off the Rhode Island coast by the Fish Hawk
in September, 1880.

Il. Reproduction. The testimony of numerous observers agrees
that this species spawns in May. The eggs have been experimentally
hatched by the United States Fish Commission at Woods Hole.
The eggs are buoyant, 1-26 of an inch in diameter, and they hatch
in eight days when the mean water temperature is 51° to 56° F.*
The young of this species have very rarely been observed, but in
the autumn of 1885 and 1886 large numbers 2 or 3 inches were
seined at Woods Hole.

Ill. Food. The food of this fish is much like that of most of the
other members of the Flat-Fish family. All bottom animals con-
tribute largely to its diet. The stomach of most specimens examined
contained the remains of annelids, molluses, the smaller crustacea,
and small fishes.

IV. Size. It seldom attains a length of over 14 inches, and

usually weighs about a pound.
THE RUSTY FLAT-FISH.
(Limanda ferruginea.)

PLATE V.

I, Habitat and Distribution. This species inhabits the American
coast of the Atlantic from Labrador to New York. DeKay reported

* Smith, Fishes of Woods Hole, Bull. U. 8. Fish Com., 1897, 108.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 79

this flat-fish to be very rare and occurring only in deep water. It
is very common in Vineyard Sound and is observed in water 10 to
12 fathoms deep, where it is present throughout the year. Numbers
are often caught, incidentally, while fishing on the bottom for other
species. In Great Harbor, Woods Hole, a few are taken in fyke
nets in winter. *Specimens have been taken on the Pecten ground,
off Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

Il. Reproduction. Little is definitely known with regard to the
reproduction of this fish. Stephen R. Williams, while collecting
young flat-fishes at Woods Hole in June, 1898 and 1899, in the course
of his investigations on the development of the winter flounder,
found two apparently different larval forms of flat-fishes. These
were of different sizes; the smaller at the end of the period of the
metamorphosis measured 8 to 9mm.; the larger at the metamorphosis
measured 13 to 14 mm., and were more bulky and had somewhat
more pigment. These larger, more pigmented, specimens were con-
sidered by Williams as possibly the young of the rusty flat-fish
(L. ferruginea).F

III. Food. Examination of the stomach contents of this fish
have shown crustacea, molluses, annelids, and small fishes.

IV. Size. The average size is stated to be about 14 inches in
length. The specimen described by DeKay was 18 inches long and
8.5 inches broad.

THE WINTER FLOUNDER.
(Pseudopleuronectes americanus. )
Puate VI.

I. Habitat and Distribution. This species has an extensive range
along the American coast of the Atlantic; it is abundant from
Labrador to Chesapeake Bay. It has a preference for muddy and

* Smith, loc. cit.

+ Changes Accompanying the Migration of the Eye in Pseudopleuronectes Americanus.
Stephen R. Williams, Bul. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. XL, No. 1, 1902, 4.

80 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

grassy bottoms. It apparently undergoes no extensive migrations,
since it is a permanent resident and is captured through the year.
It is much more abundant, however, from October to May than in
the summer, when only scattering specimens are taken in the traps.
This shows a slight tendency for these fishes to move out from the
warm inshore areas during the summer months into the deeper
colder waters.

Il. Reproduction. The spawning season of the winter flounder
is from February to April. The eggs are 1-30 inch in diameter;
they are very glutinous when first extruded from the body and stick
together in large masses and adhere to whatever objects they touch.
The eggs are demersal, that is, they sink to the bottom; in this respect
they are an exception to the eggs of all the other species of this
family. The artificial hatching of the eggs has been carried on
very extensively at Woods Hole by the United States Fish Commis-
sion. The eggs hatch in 17 or 18 days when the average water
temperature 1s 37° or 38° F. The average number of eggs to a fish is
500,000. On March 6, 1899, 1,462,000 eggs or 30 fluid ounces were
taken from a fish that weighed 34 pounds after spawning. The
spawning fish are very abundant and are captured in fyke nets on
hard clay bottom in water 6 to 15 feet deep.*

III. Food. The winter flounder feeds mostly on the small
invertebrates of muddy bottoms. As the mouth of this species is
smaller than that of most of the flat-fishes, its diet is more limited
and other fishes form a less important portion of its food. It feeds
largely on crabs, small shells, shrimp, squids, and annelids.

IV. Size. Its usual length is from 12 to 15 inches. The average
weight of specimens taken in shallow water is something over a
pound, while fishes taken further out in deeper water are larger and
average about two pounds.

Young specimens are very frequent in inshore waters, and are often
taken in the seine on sandy shores. At the Experiment Station of

* Smith, loe. cit.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 81

the Rhode Island Fish Commission at Wickford young specimens of
this species are often found in the hatching boxes during the latter
part of May. Williams,* at Woods Hole, succeeded in getting
quantities of young in larval stages at and about the time of meta-
morphosis. These were present all through the month of June,
though by the 20th of the month all of this species had metamor-’
phosed. He obtained these specimens by towing with a coarse
scrim tow-net near the wall of the “outer basin” of the United States
Fish Commission wharf during the rising tide. “They are most
abundant on clear days when the wind is on shore and the tide
comes in from the east. On very calm or rough days they are not
plentiful. My most successful Skimmings were made early in June,
and twice I obtained as many as one hundred young fish during the
inward flow of the current (three to four hours).’’ Williams states
that the young reach a length of 75 mm. (3 inches) by the end of
August, when they were about seven months old. This statement
apparently refers to specimens kept under artificial conditions.

V. Color Variations. This species is: remarkably subject to
apparently abnormal color variations. Doctor Mitchell described
two color varieties of the winter flounder. ‘One of these had a
yellow margin on the lower side, surrounding the white of that side.
This border was three-quarters of an inch wide and in striking con-
trast with the pearl of the contiguous parts within it and the brown
of the adjacent fins. The other variety, obtained April 9th, 1815,
has a whiteness of the upper side and nearly as clear as that of the
nether surface over rather more than half its extent. The anterior
part is blanched in this manner.”’+ The dorsal, anal, and ventral
fins were lighter than is usually the case, and their rays were tinctured
with yellow.

DeKay mentions a specimen obtained in April which he describes
as “not only reversed but doubled.” ‘Its color on both sides was
uniform bronze with a white patch on its right side near the chin,

* Williams, loc. cit.
* Quoted from Dr. T. H. Bean, Fishes of N. Y. Bull. N. Y. State Mus., 60, 1903, 729.
11

82 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

almost entirely denuded of scales; it had a singular protuberance
over the eye, noticed by Dr. Mitchell in his melanogaster.*”’

A dark-bellied variety appeared in Greenwich Bay, R. I., in 1897.
They had first appeared some year’s before that, but in that year
attained their maximum abundance, which was estimated to amount
to 33 per cent. of the whole number of flat-fish. The numbers of
this colored variety gradually declined so that in 1900 they were
estimated at 4 per cent., and they have since almost entirely dis-

appeared. T
SAND-DAB.

(Lophopsetta maculata.)
PrarEer vit,

I. Habitat and Distribution. This species ranges from Casco Bay
to South Carolina. It is abundant everywhere in shallow water,
particularly on sandy bottoms. It is present in Rhode Island
waters throughout the year. This fish reaches a leneth of ten or
twelve inches, and is very abundant and its flesh of good flavor, yet
it is of no commercial importance because, on account of its ex-
treme thinness, the amount of its flesh is so small that it is of little
use as food. Itis in fact so thin that it is quite translucent, which
fact is the source of one of its common names “The Window
Pane.”

Il. Reproduction. The sand-dab spawns in the early part of
June. The eggs are buoyant, non-adhesive, 1-24 of an inch in
diameter, and hatch in eight days when the average temperature is
51° to 56° F. According to Dr. Smith, there is a large run of these
fishes at Woods Hole in June during the spawning period.

III. Food. The food of this species seems to consist chiefly of
small fish, and the smaller bottom invertebrates like small crabs and

annelids.

* Quoted from DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 1842, 296, Pl. 49, Fig. 158.
+ Bull. U 8S. Fish Comm., 19, 1899, 305.
Report of R I. Fish Comm., 31, 1900. 19.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 83

IV. Size. The average length of the adult sand-dab is about 11
inches; they probably seldom attain the weight of a pound. Young
specimens are rather common in shallow water with a sandy bottom.
Williams,* 1898 and 1899, found many larval specimens at Woods
Hole closely associated with the young of the winter flounder.
Some of these specimens he kept for some time in artificial enclosures
and observed their growth. They grew very rapidly, much more so
than the flounders. One which measured 10 mm. (2-5) inch in
length and 5 mm. (1-5 inch) in depth during eleven days grew to
22 mm. (9-10 inch) in length and 12 mm. (3 inch) in depth. — Speci-
mens 2 and 3 inches long are often taken in the seine along sandy

beaches after the middle of July.

THE AMERICAN SOLE.

(Achirus fasciatus.)
Puate VIII, anp IX.

I. Habitat and Distribution. This species is the only common
representative of the Sole family on the American side of the Atlantic.
It is found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Cape Ann to
Brazos, San Diego. It is common in shallow water at the mouths
of rivers with sandy bottoms, and often ascends rivers for consid-
erable distances above tide water. They are somewhat rare in
Narragansett Bay, but a few are taken in the traps each year. It
seems to be more commonly present during summer and early fall;
Dr. Smith states that at Woods Hole it is present the year round.
Nothing is known of its breeding habits. On account of its small
size it is of no commercial importance, though its flesh is said to be of
good flavor.

The sole of European fame is not found in American waters. Two
or three attempts have been made by United States Fish Commission

to introduce it from English waters, but apparently without success.

* Williams, loe. cit.

84 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

II. Food. Few observations have been made of the character
of the food of this species. It seems to be a vegetarian, to a great
extent at least, if not exclusively, since Dr. Linton, in 1899, examined
eight specimens and found in their stomachs only vegetable debris,
which appeared to consist mostly of Fucus and eel-grass.

Ill. Size. This is the smallest of American flat-fishes. It
seldom exceeds five or six inches in length.

THE HALiput.
(Hippoglossus hippoglossus).

Puate I.

oars

o;

ss

3

a

THE Roveu Das.
(Hippoglossoides platessoides).

PuateE II.

THE SUMMER FLOUNDER.
(Paralichthys dentatus).
PuateE III.

pre ret ty
PRR aaa gik@:
SOLES
& "ara
eae San Gee gee Nag aa re
aS PaaS
ere ke COE ts

oe

"s OSES FREES
i, Jopdetr gw ameteres

* FERS ace ter as
Sy nee BeOS:
a, CelePat or
Rese oceeees we
resale ta:

ae

PES
S prea
ives:

=

A

a,

Be Pees
pees 607 og
ioe Bro

arian

rec

why
aveeias

+)
‘)

ores
RobGE

THE FouR SPOTTED FLOUNDER.
(Paralichthys oblongus).
Puate IV.

THE Rusty FLAT-FISH.
(Limanda ferru

inea).

o
5

PLATE V.

Tur WINTER FLOUNDER.
(Pseudopleuronectes americanus.)

Puate VI.

ry4 5
Gait s iengie
mea. LEGS tee

THE SAND Dap.

(Lophopsetta maculata)-

SR

PLATE VII.

ane ey

Tur AMERICAN SOLE.

(Achirus fasciatus.)

Upper side.

Puate VIII.

Rone af <aey gap

THE AMERICAN SOLE,
(Achirus fasciatus)

PLATE IX.

THE FISHES OF RHODE ISLAND.

VI. A DESCRIPTION OF TWO YOUNG SPECIMENS OF SQUE-
TEAGUE (CYNOSCION REGALIS) WITH NOTES ON
THE RATE OF THEIR GROWTH.

(WITH TWO FIGURES.)

BY HENRY C. TRACY, A. M.,

BROWN UNIVERSITY.

The identification of the eggs and of the larval and adolescent
stages of any species of fish is a necessary preliminary to the investi-
gation of its life history. »Without the means of determining the
species to which eggs and young belong, it is of course impossible to
obtain evidence regarding the times and places of spawning, the
habits of the young, the conditions which influence their lives, their
migrations, etc. Any addition, therefore, to our at present somewhat
meager knowledge of the younger stages of the marine fishes is of
value. This present paper is intended to present a few notes regard-
ing the rate of growth of young squeteague (Cynoscion regalis) and
to describe two specimens smaller than any of that species yet
described.

The only systematic attempt that has been made to investigate
the life history of the squeteague was that of Eigenmann (1901),
which was undertaken at the request of the United States Fish
Commission. He was able to ascertain many important facts re-
garding the young of this species, though the very earliest stages
were not obtained by him. The smallest specimen that he secured

86 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

was taken at the head of Narragansett Bay and was 25 mm. (1 inch)
in length as measured to the base of the caudal fin. The smallest
specimen which he figured in his report* was 32 mm. (1.3 inches).

The two specimens referred to in this paper were taken in Mill
Cove, Wickford harbor, at the Experiment Station of the Rhode
Island Commission of Inland Fisheries; they were found in the
canvas bags which are used in the rearing of the young lobster fry.
One of these young squeteague measures 12.5 mm. (4 inch) in length
to the base of the caudal fin; the greatest depth of the body was
3.75 mm. (.15 inch), which is 30 per cent. of the length; the eye was
about 1.2mm. The other specimen was 6.5 mm. (.25 inch) in length,
and 2 mm. (.08 inch) in depth, which was a little over 30 per cent.
of the length; the eye was .7mm. in diameter. These measurements
were made after the specimens had been killed (one according to
Worcester’s formula, the other in Zenker’s fluid) and preserved in
80 per cent. alcohol, so that a very slight shrinkage may have taken
place. Along with these there were also taken about a dozen
others which ranged in size between the two mentioned above, and
which were apparently of the same species. Several of these were
kept in small cars until as late as October, during which time they
become large enough to make certain the identification of these
fishes as young squeteague.

The rearing bags used by the Rhode Island Fish Commission are
made of heavy canvas and are 10 feet square and 4 feet deep. Cir-
culation of water in them is maintained by a constantly revolving
paddle which draws the water in at the bottom of the bag through a
window of wire screen and drives it out through similar windows
placed at two opposite sides.| These screens are made of copper
wire-netting of 20 meshes to the inch. These young squeteague,
then, could only have gotten into the bag by being drawn up through

the bottom screen when they were still small enough to pass through

* Bull. U. S. Fish Commission, X XI, 1901, 45.

+ For further details regarding the rearing plant and the construction of the canvas bags,
See Report of the R. I. Fish Commission, 36, 1905, 120.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 87

the meshes. This could only have been when they were less than
perhaps slightly over 1 mm. in their greatest diameter, which prob-
ably corresponds to a length of perhaps about 3.5 mm. or 4mm. It
is therefore possible to get an approximate idea of the rate of growth
of squeteague of this age.

These specimens were taken from the same bag on July 28; this
bag was put into the water on July 11; the largest specimen, there-
fore, could not have been in the bag more than 17 days, and in that
time or less it must have grown to 12.5 mm. from about 4 mm. or
less. The conditions of life existing in these bags in which the lob-
ster fry are so successfully reared apparently do not differ materi-
ally from those in the water outside, except that an abundant food
supply is always present; nevertheless the conditions in these bags
must be somewhat artificial, and how much these affect the rate of
growth of the young squeteague is, at the present time, impossible to
decide.

The finding of such small fry of the squeteague under such cir-
cumstances would ordinarily justify us in drawing further conclusions
regarding the time and place of the spawning of this species. But
unfortunately it is not possible to do so with certainty in this case.
The writer of these notes, on July 3, at 9 A. M., fertilized artificially
several thousand eggs of squeteague which were secured from fish
traps out in Narragansett Bay. These hatched out about 1 A. M..,.
July 5, and were released at the Experiment Station in the water of
Mill Cove at 4 P. M. of the same day. It is thus impossible to know
whether the specimens found on July 28 came of the lot released on
July 5, or whether they came from eggs of squeteague which spawned
naturally in the cove. It is evident, however, that the water of the
cove is very favorable to the eggs, since they hatch with such facility
there; the water there seems, also, to be well adapted for the younger
stages of the fish, since they were present in the cove until after the
middle of August at least, and those specimens which were kept in
captivity thrived until killed by the cold weather in October. There
is, therefore, in the present observations, nothing which does not tend

88 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

to support the generally accepted opinion that the squeteague
spawns in inlets, sheltered coves, at the mouths of rivers, and in
similar places.

The spawning time of the squeteague is usually considered to be
about June 1; this opinion is based on the fact that some of the
squeteague which come in at that time have ripe roes. This season
(1907), however, owing to an exceptionally late spring, all marine
life was much retarded in its seasonal development, and no squeteague
with ripe roes were seen by the writer until after June 20, while they
seemed to appear in the greatest numbers about the first of July,
Therefore, if the specimens taken at the Experiment Station came
from eggs which were spawned naturally in the cove, they could
hardly be much over 40 days old and were probably less than 30
days old, since the chances are that they would have been hatched.
from eggs spawned at the time when spawning squeteague were
present in the greatest numbers, which, in Narragansett Bay, seems,
this year, to have been during the first week of July. The spawning
in the coves would probably have taken place after, rather than
before, the mature fishes appeared in the water of the bay outside.
It will not be far from the truth, then, if the age of these young
squeteague found in the cove be placed at between 20 and 30, days,
and perhaps nearer the former time than the latter.

Two other specimens were later taken from the rearing bags, on
the following dates: Specimen 25 mm. in length, found on August 8,
in a bag which had been in the water for 12 days; specimen 29 mm.
in length, taken on August 13, in a bag which had been in the water
for 15 days. This latter specimen indicates an increase in length
from about 4 mm., or less, up to 29 mm. during a period of not more
than 15 days, and of course it may have been a somewhat less time.

The following are the sizes of squeteague taken by Eigenmann,
and the dates and places of their capture:

Specimen 32mm. long, taken at Indian Point, July 5, 1900.

Specimen 41mm. long, taken at Indian Point, on the same date.

Specimen 70mm. long, taken at Indian Point, on the same date.

‘X FLVIg

‘TX 4LV1Td

‘OLX “WW Gel
“(Si[k5I1 UOLOSOUAD)
‘ANOVALASS ONNOX

~ EKZZ

SF we ae
k ie >” Car +% Hh Xx eRe? ie
* KRER™ a a * ‘ on loos i *

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 89

Specimen 95mm. long, taken at Wareham, August 9, 1900.
Specimen 120mm. long, taken at Wareham, August 22, 1900.

Specimen 200mm. long, taken at Vineyard Sound, September 7, 1900.

Several young squeteague from 80 to 100 mm. long were taken by
the United States Fish Commission in Hadley harbor, near Woods
Hole, on September 9, 1893. In all these cases, the spawning season
was probably from two to five weeks earlier than in 1907.

Drawings of the two specimens taken on July 28 are shown in
Plates X and XI. These are in outline and aim to show only such
external characters as the form of the fins, mouth parts, gill covers,
pigmentation, ete., which will make possible the future identification
of young squeteague of these sizes.

In form and proportions these two specimens differ considerably
from the adult and from the stages described by EKigenmann. The
head and the eye are very large relatively, as is usually the case with
the very young of fishes. The contour of the tail also differs, but the
details of its development must be left until fresh specimens are
available.

The specimen 6.5 mm. long is shown in Plate X, where it is mag-
nified to twenty times the natural size. The greatest body depth
is along a line drawn vertically a little behind the posterior margin
of the eye. The embryonic fin-fold has not disappeared, though the
spines of the unpaired fins are all well differentiated. The head is
rounded in profile and the conical snout of the later stages is not yet
developed. Teeth are present on the lower jaw. The bones of the
gill-ecover are only partially developed, so that at least five branch-
iostegals are visible from the side of the fish.

The pigmentation of the young squeteague is characteristic. This
has been adequately described for the later stages by Eigenmann,
but there are noticeable differences in these early stages. Reference
to the plate shows the most important features of the arrangement
of the color spots. Along the lateral line is a row of about eight
rather large chromatophores aggregated into two groups, one of

which is in that area of the skin between the anal fin and the posterior
12

90 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

end of the dorsal fin, and the other is below the anterior end of the
soft dorsal. Each group has a few smaller chromatophores above
and below it. The group under the posterior end of the dorsal fin
was probably the first to appear. In this specimen, as shown in the
plate, there was an enormous chromatophore in the skin just above
the anal fin; this was apparently connected by processes with the
color cells of the lateral line group just above it, and is probably the
origin of the network of chromatophores which are found in a
similar position in the later stages. These groups of pigment cells,
when the young fish is looked at with the naked eye, have the effect of
producing the appearance of two grayish or dusky bands on the sides,
the anterior one of which is just beginning to appear and is much less
pronounced than the posterior one. Other large expanded pigment
spots are found in other places. The most conspicuous of these are
scattered around the head region, particularly on the under side; a
small clump is also found on the back near the beginning of the
dorsal fin; two or three chromatophores are found along near the
ventral edge of the caudal peduncle, while only one or two have yet
appeared at the base of the caudal fin. The tissues of the fish are so
transparent that the dense pigmentation of the posterior part of the
body cavity is visible from the outside.

Plate XI shows the drawing of the specimen 12.5 mm. in length.
It is here enlarged to ten times the natural size. The greatest body
depth lies along a line drawn not far forward of the posterior margin
of the gill-cover. Thus it is evident that the line of greatest body
depth has shifted backward appreciably from the position which it
occupied in the previous stage. The fins are fully differentiated and
the embryonic fin-fold has completely disappeared. The snout has
become somewhat pointed, though not so much so as in the later
stages. The mouth has become more oblique; the maxillary and
premaxillary have grown broader; the teeth of the lower jaw are
large, strong, incurved, particularly along the sides; the teeth of the
upper jaw are numerous but very minute; the opercular bones have

grown downward and backward so that the branchiostegals are

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 91

carried down ventrally in such a way as to be scarcely visible from
the side.

In the pigmentation this stage differs considerable from the one
just described. Chromatophores are present in greater numbers on
every part of the fish. Those on the lateral line have increased in
numbers so as to extend along nearly its whole length, and two new
groups have been added, one just under the spinous dorsal, the other
just in front of the base of the caudal fin. Thus to the naked eye the
fish of this stage looks darker than one of the preceding, and the
dusky bands on the side have increased to four. <A row of branched,
anastomosing chromatophores runs vertically along the base of the
caudal fin-rays. <A similar row of network-like chromatophores lies
all along the base of the anal fin. Two or three rows of very compact
chromatophores run along the back parallel to the insertion of the
dorsal fin; three or four short lines of color cells run longitudinally
on the top of the head. Two or three branched, somewhat tenuous
pigment cells lie in the fin-membrance of the spinous dorsal. Scat-
tered chromatophores occur along the gill-covers, on the upper and

lower Jaws, and on various other parts of the body.

92 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

DISTRIBUTION OF CLAM SETS IN 1907.

The subject of the growth, habits, and artificial culture of the
soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria), and the interesting facts of the
peculiar distribution of the “‘set’”’ along the shores of Narragansett
Bay, has been fully discussed in the earlier reports of this Commis-
sion.

Occasionally, in a certain year, a remarkably thick set has occurred
upon one or more limited portions of the shore, while in other years
the set is equally thick in other, but usually not in the same localities.
In some years none of the portions of the shore examined has a set
even remotely approaching in abundance those referred to.

In 1898 the station of the Commission was located at the Kickemuit
river, and the study of the life history of the clam was undertaken by
Professor Kellogg, now of Williams College, who found considerable
numbers of clams, though no systematic search was made for thick
clam sets along the shore. In 1899 the station was located at Wick-
ford, and for the first time the phenomenon of an exceeding thick set
of clams of about a month in age and 1-32 to 4 inch in length was
discovered about the 4th of July, and described. This was found on
the southwest point of Cornelius Island; 12,500 clams were counted
from one square yard.

In 1900, on the same shore but in a slightly different locality, the
same phenomenon occurred; 7,715 clams were counted from one
square yard. In that year the set was also thick at Old Buttonwoods.

In 1901 a most extraordinary set was found on the east shore of
Green’s Island, north of Conimicut.

In 1902 there were no places discovered where the set was at all
comparable in thickness with any of those just mentioned.

In 1903 a phenomenal set was again found on the same shore of
Cornelius Island, but nowhere else in the bay.

In 1904 the same phenomenon recurred on Cornelius, and sur-
passed any of the previous sets excepting, perhaps, that of 1901 at
Green’s Island.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 93

Since 1904 no such sets have been found anywhere. The ex-
planation of this peculiarity of yearly distribution is not apparent.

In the hope of ultimately throwing some light upon it, the ex-
amination of the shore in search of the new set is being made each
season, and a record kept of the conditions.

The following gives, in tabulated form, the conditions in twenty-

four localities during the past four years:

Condition of Clam Grounds Visited in November and December, 1907 (also Jan-
uary, 1908), with Abundance of Clam Set in 1904, 1905, and 1906.

The Abundance of Clam Set in.
Locatiry. Te
1904. 1905. | 1906. 1907.

1 Academy Cove, Wickford.........|Extremely thick... |Scant.......|Scant..../Seant.

Des ulOCkssyEOMbi ct ck ech. ae Very good........ None......./Scant... ./Scant.

3 Buttonwood’s Shore.............. LEZOYS Dari co ere Were eh an ee Re eee earth aoe Sere Fair

AN Conanicut (west). ..26. cs c0s 5. oe Goodthees-ee aa Howse. see Scant ani scant

SmCold Spring beachenehemcseeia seth [Haviiceant eroresccsngaie ces Hew kek. ook Scant... .|Scant.

6 Cornelius Island (S. W. Pt.)........| Extremely thick...|Few........|Scant....|Few.

7 Cornelius Island (elsewhere) ...... CRTC ee ne a) hore INone™).25. Few ....|Scant.

8) Ducle Cove ciecccjenecn scjsa ees eu ese GOOd fio e sh iis 6, ails OWA ate nave Few ....|Few.

OBHIshingsCovetsee aacere oe oe eee Goode eee Scattering. .|Few ....|Few.
10 Greene’s Island (east shore) ...... INOneiay | Gece or ss None! . 2a.2 Good ...|Few.
11 Kickemuit River (west bend) ....| Very good........ Scattering. .|Few ....|Fair.
12 Kickemuit River (elsewhere)...... Medere noe ola. Scattering. .|/Fair ....|/Few.

13 Mill Cove, Wickford (west shore). . | Fair Scattering ../Scant ...|None.
14 Mill Cove, Wickford (south shore).. MG Winses care S ....|None.
15 Mill Cove, Wickford (north shore).. ae i paca eenne
N6BRoplarvPomts-ce eee ete as nee ..|/None.
i7ebruidenceslstander c=. seer. ..|None.
18 Prudence Island (west shore)...... ..|Few.
19 Quonset Point to Greenwich Bay. . . |Scattering.
20 Sakonnet River (upper east shore). ..|None.
OMS aligaeholnty sicisers cis hers oe ko sleve eset ..|/Seant.
QouSheepreeniCoves.. ao cacae ee ca see .|Few.
SWAB USN OLCO Kacy ts a ceacicieiene a susimeid eo . |Scattering.
24 Village Cove, Wickford........... .|Fair.

LOBSTER CULTURE AT WICKFORD, R. I., IN 1907.

- The lobster rearing season began on the 30th of May. From this
date the machinery was kept in motion for 75 days, the season
finally ending on the 12th of August. The weather conditions
throughout the season were quite favorable. The temperature of
the water continued cold in the early part of the summer, and at the
close of this cold period the sudden ripening of the eggs somewhat

94 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

overcrowded the capacity of the plant and results were not as good
as might have been obtained from the large number of egg lobsters
received. Two hundred ninety-four thousand eight hundred ninety-
six lobsters were reared to the fourth stage, as opposed to 189,894 of
the preceding year. These lobsterlings were liberated in various
_ places along the shores of Narragansett Bay, as is shown in table at
the close of this article.

Constructive work, as well as lack of space, prevented an extensive
attempt at rearing to the fifth stage. However, a number of fourth’s
were kept in the new rearing boxes till quite far along in the fifth
stage, and some had reached the sixth stage. In all, 4,900 were
reared to these stages.

Some important additions and improvements which were made

this season are as follows:

New Rearing Floats.—Two additional floats, the same size as the
two already on hand, were built. These were placed one on each
side of the original floats and connected to them as rigidly as possible
by bolting them together in several places with heavy beams which
passed from one to the other. In this way the power could be trans-
mitted by ordinary shaft and gear connections, without need of
universal joints and sliding sleeves. These floats were not fully
equipped till the season was drawing to a close. Nevertheless, one
was filled with bags, and the gearing on both was run long enough to
test the general scheme. This addition increases the size of the
plant from 12 pools to 24 pools, and is also of value in showing the
possibility of greatly increasing the size of the plant by adding extra
floats and shafting. As the floats are now connected there is a drive
of over 350 feet of shafting, not including the short pieces that run
down to the paddles. One-inch shafting is used throughout, except
in the short drive-shaft on the houseboat, where it is 1 3-16 inches.
The slow speed and the limberness of the one-inch shaft prevent any

harm from the constant bending of the long floats.

A New Engine.—The importance of an uninterrupted current in

the bags can not be too strongly emphasized, as has been stated

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 95

many times in the reports. An assurance of motor power is there-
fore imperative, and when a station is situated at some distance from
repair shops extraordinary precautions are necessary to prevent
breakdowns. <A quite complete set of tools and duplicate pieces
of those parts of the engine and gearing most apt to give out has
been the only precaution taken at the station till last year. On
increasing the plant it was decided to put in an auxiliary engine
which could be started up at a moment’s notice and run independ-
ently or together with the other engine. The experience of the
summer proved the wisdom of the action. In selecting an engine
one of the same make and type as the one already in use was set up,
and consequently only one set of fittings was necessary.

Wooden Boxes Replace Canvas Bags.—The experiment was tried,
last season, of using wooden boxes for rearing purposes instead of the
canvas bags. The 14 to 26 days at a time that a bag has to be
suspended in the water damages the canvas, and very often, with
the utmost care, it is apt to be torn. A great deal of time and labor
has been necessarily expended in properly washing and drying the
bags in order to prevent the canvas from rotting, and also in patching
the holes and weak places. In spite of this care numbers of lobster
fry have been lost, occasionally, through holes occurring in the
bags, and for this reason many experiments with counted lots have
had to be made over. It was for the purpose of preventing such
losses that a wooden car was devised. The boxes were made of the
same size and general shape of the canvas bags, but certain adjust-
ments had to be made. Most kinds of wood, particularly when new,
seem to poison the fry. To overcome this difficulty well seasoned
spruce was used and painted inside and out. This painting, together
with the continual current of water circulating through the boxes, kept
the water pure, and no effect from the poisoning of the wood was _no-
ticed. All the corners and angles of the boxes were truncated by fit-
ting wide boards into them. This gave a more even circulation of
the water, prevented eddies, and left less chance of the lobsters being
thrown against the sides of the box. While the use of boxes is

96 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

not entirely past the experimental stage, we have had sufficient
suecess to warrant building cars to replace all the canvas bags.
Last summer six cars were used with good results. The proportion
of lobsters carried through to the fourth stage in -the boxes was
determined in case of one counted lot of 20,000 fry: forty-two per
cent. arrived at the fourth or ‘“‘ bottom” stage.

One very favorable feature of the box scheme is that the old
lobsters bearing mature eggs can be put into the box and allowed
to crawl about on the bottom. The fry, when hatched, rise in the
water and are kept in motion by the current created by the revolution
of the paddles.

Liberation of Fourth and Fifth Stage Lobsters, 1907.

_ NUMBER.
Character
Loca.ity.
Fourth | Fifth of shore.
Stage. Stage.
EastiboplariPointec.an2 secon ee eee Ln eee 30,000 2,500 | Rocky.
MillkCoveuNowdlens ne bisa crite ee sere Ces Pee Se ep eM 3100! Is a Sac oc Rocky.
IE XC Yel fospll Bayh aH Ney ett APMIS ES hc ene MORSE Mondo eis ots aid Ok A OOOO retest Rocky.
Mallii€overiNo: 2:2. noses Sach anes Ls PARR th 2M sane AOR Se Gh ae 2,000 1,000 | Muddy.
PO TEST OU GE es ey eee ae cee et eee en mere vet Scare ce [mee a OES | Pounce Stony. 1
KT CICOTNUITT RULER tee rco cee ee Pe ec ep esos heme ene ret ets AS OOO! leer ieee cae Stony.
Conanicutrlslands. ae ete Oa a ee he ee ee ey LOO Ne oses ade Rocky ledge.
Hope lsland $5: 20 eh phere sees LEA Pree ee De Roe, et ai OOOO | ees neler Stony.
Wihite ROCKS) chy tmnt ek ii tee ars ge) ace ieee rae at BHO lS ouaodick Rocky ledge.
MotalMiberateds Ser wie ces ata en aie eh 279,000 S000). 3. reer es
Wsed' tor experiments; ete. eo sor si cine ati eee es yea bee 5,896 A AOO) || aetna
Wsedsinirearine tomtth Stages oe ria aces eteweete Pe) tetra iene 1 0)%(6) ¥ 0 Jas P| RR ts 3c
Totalicountedrouts. tee ae ode oe ee ee cape neyae 294,896 AX QOO' | esaticucs te ewerene

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 97

Total Number of Lobsters Reared each Year since 1900.

a6 Kourth | ith
IGT eet pak Sas aa oA ARS 9 all, ee CW Din Names ener
[OTe ele pa et REE e AN nie ae RR eR T FLT ae S074 Pont Le
TAD newt Vets Aol hs 6.0.5! Se a DR SO0' [io sete ee
TAOS eR eet Reiki Ac ead we milal NUN Aes eae 113/500), 1c son seae
FIGURE TLS 27. BODO Talbey. teem
NOOBS Sia tnes 3,0 n Ripe ies ai lin seo or ee aU ae eee LOS 57206 acta:
NDT re a PR ee GO POR REE EERO 189,384 | 24,800
SCTE er ete iets Hien eel Soe Roe Se dend oe 7. hand Me Pelee 2k 294,896 4,900
TESTE ENE ERR Se RCP en Saat SR BE PDI REL SPUR re 691,648 | 29,700

13

THE PROBLEM OF FEEDING IN ARTIFICIAL LOBSTER
CULTURE.

BY VICTOR E. EMMEL, PH.D.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Introduction?) one hemes Soetais whletceee eee iene Aten Oe eee 99

I~ (Previous: Peeding-Hxperimentts.0)-)08. eso. hee aes oats ees 100

a. Codtishvand obster's Livery: a2 .o 2 ones avon eee 100

Ios Vom ashi, & tel Oe ee Ber tne tee ea lee ee) eran aR 101

ce. Copepods and Other Surface-Swimming Organisms............ 101

d., ‘he Soft-Shelled’ Clam ..0 25). 2 an sone neem one Ss ER Te 102

II. Can the Present Feeding-Methods be improved?.................... 103 >

III. Experiments to compare the Effect of Different Foods upon the Growth

of Fourth-Stage Lobsters............ BG shack Secale Seige eee eee 103

av Methods..crc<)is:cu0 ns4 os pin acta } aes he obi see Sith ae Ee eee 103

oe otheesuilits ss Seyi Gee tcisacite se ae nee tort ae eee OR eo te aie 105

G., Diséussionvol Results... 72.8 Sige: se cis sips oe oe ice eee 109

IV. Experiments to Determine the Comparative Value of Beef and Clam

toryNewly Hatched Gobstenstacc. = acme eke erie miei tie rents 110
2.) Experiments and Results: oiy..6\.i< saiele eye = eye reise onic se eae 110
b:. "Comiparative (Cost. 5 icisiete sofas isc d Wed, 4 askoioaeiptetete melee ete, seen 111

WV.2 ‘Sammaryland Conclusions: oats anes os as ee oe «sree 113

THE PROBLEM OF FEEDING METHODS IN LOBSTER
CULTURE.

The problem of obtaining a satisfactory food for the lobster fry
is one of fundamental significance in the practical success of lobster
culture. The importance of this subject was early recognized by
Dr. H. C. Bumpus, who expressed himself in a report on experiments
in rearing young lobsters, as feeling ‘‘convinced that the food is the
determining factor in the problem of brooding.”’*

Previous to 1898 lobster culture, as conducted by the United
States Fish Commission, consisted in merely hatching the lobsters
and immediately liberating them in the sea. It became gradually
recognized, however, that the immediate liberation of the lobster
fry is objectionable because no protection is given the young lobster
at the most critical period of its life, for it was soon seen that the
period at which the young lobster needs most protection is during
the first fifteen or twenty days after hatching. In view of this fact,
a series of systematic experiments on rearing lobsters was. begun at
Woods Hole in 1898, under the direction of Dr. H. C. Bumpus, at
that time director of the scientific work of the United States Fish
Commission. In 1900 these experiments were transferred from
Woods Hole to the Experiment Station of the Rhode Island Fish
Commission, where they were continued by Dr. A. D. Mead. Under
Dr. Mead’s direction these experiments were carried to a successful
conclusion. He demonstrated that it is practical to rear the lobster
through the first four stages of its life. This work placed the methods
of lobster culture on a fundamentally new basis.

In the transition to these new methods of lobster culture it became
necessary to make an extensive study of the various factors in-

* 30th Annual Report of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries, 1900, p. 44.

100 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

fluencing the lobster’s life and growth. Obviously food is one of the
most important of these factors. A food to be most satisfactory
must combine a maximum of results with a minimum cost. The
present paper presents the experiments made for the purpose of
finding a food most satisfactory for rearing young lobsters.

J. Previous FEEDING—-EXPERIMENTS.

The problem of food necessarily demanded a good share of attention
in attempting to rear the lobsters. The item of food is especially
important because the rapidly growing lobster requires almost con-
stant feeding, and if not amply fed, their cannibalistic habits lead to
mutual destruction. A brief review of the various expedients em-
ployed to feed the fry embraces an interesting phase in the history
of lobster culture.

a. Codjish and Lobster’s Liver.

One of the first foods to be tried was shredded codfish. This was
described in a commission report for 1899 as ‘containing a sufficient
amount of air to cause it to descend slowly through the water and
thus becomes an attractive object to the young animals, which
quickly follow any moving object” (p. 98).

Codfish was soon replaced by lobster’s liver, and the Commission _
congratulated itself upon ‘finding an excellent food, a food that is
practically the same as that giving nutriment to the embryo while

b)

within the egg.”’ In the report of the Rhode Island Fish Commission
for 1900, Dr. H. C. Bumpus observes that ‘It is a well-known fact
that the food-yolk of the lobster’s egg is finally stored in the liver of
the growing embryo, and at the time of hatching the supply of this
material is nearly exhausted. The liver of the adult lobster (the
greenish-colored gland, so delicious to the taste, and often called the
‘“‘fat’’) is made up of a number of short fibers, which may be readily

cut up into morsels practically microscopic. These float about in

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 101

the water and are easily devoured by the fry, a single liver being

sufficient to feed many thousands” ( p. 44).

b. Young Fish.

The liver of the lobster seemed at first a fairly good food for the
young lobster fry, but it has several objectionable features. Not
only does the use of the liver involve the sacrifice of adult lobsters,
but the uneaten liver rapidly decays and pollutes the water. More-
over, it was observed that as the lobsters become older they seem to
flourish better on living food than on the prepared liver.

This suggested the use of young fish. These seemed in many
respects an ideal food, for the fish fry liberated in the hatching bags
could be eaten at any time by the young lobsters. Unfortunately
this experiment was not a success. In searching for a fish whose
young could be raised for food, the goose-fish was selected. But
when the young fish were finally obtained, it was found that the
lobsters would not eat them. It was believed that the lobsters were
not attracted by the young goose-fish on account of its dark color.

Reference has been made to the early use of shredded codfish.
Other adult fish were also used for food. It is true that the flesh of
various fishes is readily eaten by the lobster, but its use is not prac-
tical on account of the oil which exudes from the fish and fills the

water in the rearing bags.
c. Copepods and Other Surjace-Swimming Organisms.

Experiments were also made with copepods and other organisms.
swimming near the surface of the sea. They were readily caught in
large quantities by drawing a fine-meshed net along the surface of
the water. These organisms furnish a natural food. The young
lobster’s preference for copepods has recently been clearly shown by
Dr. L. W. Williams.* In his examination of the stomach contents:

*L. W. Williams, ‘‘The Stomach of the Lobster and the Food of the Larval Lobster.’”
37th Annual Report of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries, 1907, p. 153-181,
10 Plates.

102 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

of 100 larval lobsters he found 37 per cent. of the lobsters with cope-
pods and only 8 per cent. with clam; 4 per cent. with insects, 3 per
cent. with parts of lobsters which they had eaten in a cannibalistic
manner; the stomach contents of 11 per cent. of the lobsters con-
tained matter classed as “unrecognizable,” and the stomachs of the
remaining 28 per cent. were empty (p. 177).

In spite of the fact, however, that these free-swimming organisms
furnish a normal food, the practical difficulty and uncertainty of
securing a constant supply has not favored utilizing this natural
food on any large scale, as would be necessary in the lobster hatching.
Moreover, in catching the copepods it is practically impossible to
prevent taking other undesirable organisms in the net, such as
diatoms and shrimp. Both of these organisms are injurious to the
young lobsters, for the diatoms attach themselves to the lobsters
and greatly retard their growth, and the shrimp eat them.

d. The Sojt-Shelled Clam.

One of the most satisfactory foods thus far tried has been the
soft-shelled clam. Dr. A. D. Mead, of Brown University, in his
report as director of Experiment Station of the Rhode Island Fish
Commission for 1902, observes “‘that the fry decidedly prefer an
animal to a vegetable diet, and in providing an animal food it is
necessary to select a tissue which can easily be shredded or crumbled
into small pieces. . . . The best food so far discovered is the
soft parts of clams. The bodies of the clams are cut out and
chopped into fine pieces in a chopping tray, and then thrown into the
water” (p. 38*).

Since 1902 the clam has been adopted as the best food for lobster
rearing purposes. Mr. E. W. Barnes, assistant superintendent of
the Wickford Experiment Station, has described among the ad-
vantages of the soft-shelled clam as a food, its lightness and absence

* 32nd Annual Report of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries, 1902.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 103

of oil, and as compared with other foods, being less subject to ready
decay, and easily kept floating in the water (p. 147*).

Il. Can THE PRESENT FEEDING—METHODS BE IMPROVED?

Although the soft-shell clam has thus been found to be the most
serviceable of the foods so far tried, the question still remains whether
the clam is in every respect the best available food.

It is evident that the food which is to prove most satisfactory for
the purposes of lobster culture as developed at the Rhode Island

hatchery, must furnish:

(a2) A maximum rapidity in growth and moulting at

(b) A minimum expense;

(c) A minimum of objectionable material such as unedible tissues
which decay and pollute the water;

(dq) Lightness, to enable the lobsters to secure the food before
it sinks, and

(e) Certainty of a sufficient and constant supply.

With reference to these requirements, the writer was asked by
Dr. A. D. Mead to further investigate the comparative value of
different foods. For this purpose the following experiments were

made during the summer of 1907:

Ill. Experiments TO COMPARE THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT Foops
UPON THE GROWTH OF FoURTH-STAGE LOBSTERS.

a. Methods.

About 90 young lobsters were used in these experiments. These
lobsters had all moulted to the fourth stage on June 25, 1907. By
selecting a hatching bag in which the lobsters, perhaps 20,000 or
more, were all known to be in a given stage, it was possible to obtain

* K. W. Barnes: Methods of Protecting and Propagating the Lobster, with a Brief Outline

of its Natural History. 36th Annual Report of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland
Fisheries, 1906, p. 119-152. 18 Plates.

104 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

a large number of lobsters which had moulted to the same stage on
the same day. Care was also taken to select only normal individuals,
for it had been previously discovered that the process of regeneration
which follows the loss of limbs tends to materially retard the lobster’s
erowth.*

These 90 fourth-stage lobsters were then separated into six groups
of 15 lobsters each. Five of these groups of lobsters were fed with
different kinds of food. The remaining group was kept as a control.

It was attempted to conduct the experiments under constant and,
at the same time, as nearly normal conditions as possible. Each
lobster was kept in a separate glass jar. These jars or bottles were
placed in a wooden frame not unlike an egg-crate. This frame, with
its 90 or more Jars, was then submerged to a distance of about two
feet below the surface of the water, in order to secure a continual
change of water. This necessitated a cover of some sort over the
mouths of the jars to prevent the escape of the lobsters. A good
deal of difficulty was experienced in finding a satisfactory cover.
At first caps of copper screen were placed over some of the jars con-
taining lobsters, for a preliminary test. But upon examination,
about twelve hours later, we were surprised and disappointed to
find every lobster dead. Apparently the chemical products produced
by the contact of the copper with salt water had been sufficient to
poison the animals. Galvanized wire screen was next tried, but
with almost equally disastrous results; for within twenty-four hours
the second lot of lobsters had also died. After several experiments,
a cover of loose-meshed cloth, ‘‘bobbinet,’’ was tried. This proved
successful.

The lobsters were fed once a day. Before feeding, each jar was
carefully cleaned in order to remove particles of food and sediment
which always collect at the bottom of the jar. The food was then

* Emmel, V. E,. ’05: The Regeneration of Lost Parts in the Lobster; 35th Annual Report
of the Rhode Island Fish Commission. 1906: The Relation of Regeneration to the Molting
Process in the Lobster; 36th Annual Report of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland
Fisheries.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 105

cut into small pieces about an eighth of an inch in diameter, and one
of these pieces placed in each jar.

In order to determine to what extent the lobsters might have
derived food from the copepods and other organisms which could
get into the jars, one group of lobsters was retained as a control.

These lobsters were kept under exactly the same conditions as
all the other lobsters, except that they were not fed, their only source
of food being the organisms which may have gotten into the jars
from the outside. That the amount of food thus derived from
external sources must have been very small indeed is clearly dem-
onstrated in the results about to be presented. ~

Observations were made twice a day, and a record kept for the
date of moult for each individual. Occasionally a lobster was
moulting at the time of observation, but usually the moult had
occurred during the interval between two successive observations;
in this case the date of the first observation after moulting was
recorded as the date of moult.

b. Results.

The results of these experiments have been tabulated in the fol-
lowing form. By “moulting period ” is meant the number of days
intervening between the third and fourth moults. Since in these
experiments both the age and size of the lobsters, and the tempera-
ture of the water, were practically the same for each group of lobsters,
the length of this ‘‘moulting period”? may be regarded as a fairly
accurate indication of the effect of the different foods upon the rate
of growth.

14

106 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

1. SOFT-SHELLED CLAMS.

TABLE I:

Growth of Fourth Stage Lobsters Fed on the Muscle of the Sojt-Shelled Clams.

o
a Moulted to Fourth Stage. Moulted to Fifth Stage. yeneoey es the
5 Moulting Period.
Z
Hee ItIne sso renrAc IM ies ku.) caste heern ns. Duly AS SUPA Minas eee Penta. ca ae 9.5 days
BD Ile reaver ee (open PEA MET Pee Sy sd fat eZee tote ede eee OG Ae 9.5 days.
SY pba venta pats tae eal Lane ate chess ioc e July7 be SeP Me ete ae eee ae 10.5 days.
Aa TNCs Dy OPA «Mike eens Rie Duiliyab SHE ME ese ewe eck ere 10.5 days.
HealuNe, 2 aS AeVls ee Ualoeh.s oc uilye 5h SUP MN eke cetera teasers 10.5 days.
(Go |) dhibtavss Day SONS Wes Oob eo oars ose Julyz5 See Mees Ae ee cee 10.5 days.
PEM led ithatseeaye tetn Need oy Ree oiaig Gs Gane Ly OVS VIS ome se eaten eas kee 10.5 days.
Shullunese py OpAty Mistece ponerse biaee, ulygoy Seba Nor rena ene earn 10.5 days.
PUINEA Dae SAL IVE Nees meee eck July 55 Subs Nie ai tiara? Way Ae 10.5 days.
Oia | mew eA Me oer ree. gio Oily "6S Siea Mins ee eee eee 11.5 days.
TL WN i tak a SYP heh Ne UI eka Bus eer niet ee OliyAyi Suiby Misra gee eer s 12.5 days.
TA) a fbia Ver Pa NSS UNG Diss aCe eo eli Gi July475 Shae sae ates sees cere 12.5 days.
PS eRe aS eA Dee raie si srcmcuews chan Tulyaits tea Mia eee eee 12.5 days.
2s) eed fib baYeyeeta ye toy lacy NY leer ens leer Geo PULA a Sete eaten se Lin 13.2 days.
Nay A bare eae cys Vaal Re cee dene el St A TUly AO Se Ey Mls sh | Cee Pavey cle 14.5 days.

Average length of moulting period, 11.3 days. —

2. ° BEEF.

LAB iE lle

Growth of Fourth Stage Lobsters Fed on Beef.

~

o
& 2

g Moulted to Fourth Stage. Moulted to Fifth Stage. ES Ie ofthe

5 Moulting Period.
Z

1 Juiner2 5 A SeA Mise ec ee ean eee Julyc4 See IM ee ae eee 9.5 days.

OFF OUNES2 O Sele Miers ate Spates Suly;4 Se Pa M secre eee 9.5 days.

Salone 25 WS eA Mita easec ete pe July: 5 SUP MMe ack Ses See 10.5 days.

ADA OUTED sh Ave Ls orn haste atepap juar ete ce DULY AGs eAsH MLS, cracks seaverein cea 11.0 days.

MAK IUNE Aa Sirs Mie elenccs muses ehecc ak TUlyAG wy SwACUM nee iae seceded OPC arse

(Byrail| cbfibaaves Pe NEMA aati Bona oy SR ee UV GR SCAT Mice ire ce eee 11.0 days.

Za etine ya) Sic Ae ML inv tame ceca tes Su conceoee Alivia Wig ohn fo tes ea Bea earn o. 3 11.0 days.

Sl OUNE Sor ScAte Mi we eens cele Ah he Gish) BB aaR ame Soko b ods 11.0 days.

OM Ne OwSRAV Miginc mee cies DULY AO RSV AGVD ha eee eae 11.0 days.
EO ed RITNG 22 108 WAS LVL este ee eens cee July GS OVAUM Scan ee eres 11.0 days.
MUMS RIUITIO 255) 8. sAvar Mri S meny eens DUlyA OMG es aun See eer ere | elo ncauss
IP pn afb baley oda pesto. etal OIE ie eee are oe ie Surly) Gere Ls cm cecene ee tens camer: 11.5 days.
TST) AGMA VEY PAS CINE ay ene Selon cn teat tae UU Yo Miler eoslodsouas 12.5 days.
Ais oMIne to. Swany ter tks tyh cules Poa tay uted eae MaMa khan 1s Seb alcee 12.5 days.
THM INewe paetArn cise cosreen een ver TUL y ES ey ee islet cet eeen oer 13.5 days,

Average length of moulting period, 11.2 days.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

3. LOBSTER’S MUSCLE.

TABLE LIT.

107

Growth of Fourth Stage Lobsters Fed on Shredded Lobster’s Muscle.

i]

o

2

| Moulted to Fourth Stage. Moulted to Fifth Stage. uence Bue in
Z

1 DUNEEZ DU SrArS Me cai soe cite eee JUNEP2 TNGICKS rch a ss aera eo a Sse A eae eee oer are
20 )|ouney Zon SAis Meee ce cease ae DULY a OS Si eee sce aie eee ener 10.5 days
Sim erunere oa Se Aven Mes oe sins oe alee ee Dilys Daehn Menieres ae acereenarte 10.5 days
AXP UUNEPZ OY OL Ave Mies & ove everae 2 elesie c SAU Kiara reat cAM ef) DA reier a Ais cnet te A 10.5 days.
Die | PUUINGE ZOU SUA. oe. on cae aiae ee. ULV ASS EAP Mercier oes 10.5 days.
6G lPJumer2on SAN Mees as ccc. 6 oat JUV6 NS ALM cen aes sate 11.0 days.
fet ORIDE ON Sere VES aaa ayaa ne opt Dulye 6. Subse) eee eee 11.5 days.
Sipe dune 2owScAve Mic a. crs eye ce acc ULL GS ele Mey shoucn pee as oie te 11.5 days.
OM eounes255.8 Ast Mis 3... serese be oreue JULY AG Sue View satr oe aena aE 11.5 days.
HOM IUNEG 25 SPAM Mir: tec ssctaje ee 2 ate AUIS IES WEES acaaen scp odes 11.5 days.
htt ome Ro nS An Meter oe. oa ae Anbu Ne (ap eye 27 SN ieee ae Gee ae eS 11.5 days.
Tal rouney2on sulle Mises soca gcd ocho. ALTO Uae / toto: Ua (14 (See A ARN cho eee 12.0 days.
Se |PoUuNe Zon GcAR ME. ss us sees a SulveierS beens vie nee cee ate 12.5 days.
AP OUND 5 Su At nM. aris mi cqe te oreregs de Te toilets WY Oc ope ain owes 12.5 days.
TGS |p ARbeatey 2isy AVN 1) eestor iariaree lye esi Vienne on ee are 13.5 days.

Average length of moulting period, 11.5 days.
* Died while moulting.
4, SHREDDED FISH.
ABI AVE
Growth of Fourth Stage Lobsters Fed on Shredded Fish.*

3

2 Moulted to Fourth Stage. Moulted to Fifth Stage. Tenet a wae
5 Moulting Period.
eq

GES IUNERA OSHA e Mise creas cee ate bis Daly 48) Pa Meee hea ee eae eek 9.5 days.
all ednivie Zor Sek Mier cs sh ac 22 bee July 5382) Maegan eee eee 10.5 days.
Sua UNE) LON Si Ace Mars rsic eres crane sts July 5s BaP Me eee eee ae als 10.5 days.
AONE SOmoeAr Vitis 8 isco te oi. rly 6) SAGER eee ee 11.0 days.
Din OMNES Ome AseMns 2h ees sy as Juliy6, (SAG Me see ee Cece cia 11.0 days.
Gal Rune 25) SNe ce ae tts aise cs July6; ‘Se P Mee eee me eis 11.5 days.
Me POUNESZ 5S SRA e Mice 4.58.5 cso serch July 6;-8ePo MEE eeseeaieedie os 11.5 days.
Smilpounerso echt Mere et ee An, July:6 18 ba eee eae 11.5 days.
OP IUNOTZO ScAce Ms 2 23 eis bo oF acts guly6;.8 Bo Mee seen 11.5 days.
LOW) | une 258A MESS Sess kan) July: i7, 6 AS ME eseen ac 11.9 days.
My | Jmer Zo. SvAty Meets es SS bk Oly 02)8 econ espe te hee Hee 12.5 days.
TO UMeR 2 oe SoA Me ic tere, cathe Duly: 7S BM a Aes Area esle 12.5 days.
TSA PUNE gi SicNes Meer... Seep de, aoe July Si AS Mie ee eos nie ee 12.7 days.
TA Sune! Zo Seas Me nsess 3. cc tie's July SPS pPeMie reser es nee 13.5 days.
{5m IP DUINe ZO SeAC NE seer. fo ek July 87S R Mie ee ae eee 13.5 days.

Average length of moulting period, 11.7 days.
* The fish used was the common mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus

108

5.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS

BEEF LIVER.
TABLE V.

OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Growth of Fourth Stage Lobsters Fed on Beef Liver

Moulted to Fifth Stage.

Length of the
Moulting Period.

iI

ao

2

g | Moulted to Fourth Stage.
2)

1 | June 25,8 A.M.
2 | June 25,8 A.

3 | June 25,8 A. M.
4 | June 25,8 A. M
5 | June 25,8 A M
6 | June 25,8 A. M
7 |.June 25,8 A.M
8 | June 25,8 A. M
9 | June 25,8 A. M
10 | June 25,8 A. M
11 | June 25,8 A.M
12 | June 25,8 A.
13 | June 25,8 A. M
14 | June 25,8 A. M
15 | June 25,8 A.
16 | June 25,8 A.M.

| drulyroee Be

July 6,8 A.

July 6,8 A.
| July 6, 8 P.
| July 6, 8 P.
| July 6, 8 P.
| dawlhye 74, shee
oulya isis
| July 7, 8 P.
| July 7, 8 P.
ediuilivade Seles

July 8, 8 P.
| July 8, 8 P.
July 9, 8 P.
July AlOVGS PAM ane cee eee

July 6,8 A.

Average length of moulting period, 12.3 days.

TaBLeE VI.

14.

Growth of Fourth Stage Lobsters Which were Kept Without Any Food except what
may have been Derived from the Organisms Floating in the Water.

~

®

2

E Moulted to Fourth Stage. Moulted to Fifth Stage.

Zz

aM TUM e yO DS ALeIMLts .ronwa cea aie rege eee Trulyp OVS rAsMi ers ecco eee
Pie dhinaerPey KSUANS WY laoia cago Siocd oO Bd.o Tlvs OS VAS Meee ee eee
SPUN eZ OS eACH cee ee caine Tully lO 8 PAM eee cee ee See
Al UNCIS SAT ele eile codigtcis «feats Duly Al eSiPl Mee An wapiercaee eco ee
ied || INGA On SpAve MG pie ect actin stoi Ulysse RGA Mey. cores aieeeeeaens
(Fa) Aber ANS WS Gets eGo ado ol Awibyalisy Wilden Book asso oo os ad
He UNC y2ON SEAS we Minti is. cee avereko ue TulyeU7AGS we. ss ae ts ee
Sv idune: 2a SvAsg Ms ok ok cite mere Suilys U7 OEP IME. eer toners sre
OM JUNO He OicAc eta otic ope gerererarenenits Sulyz Sh 7, 2A: EVE cera
TOM oUneR2 be Sr AGeM! <2 cen mene Iualy7NOK.9 Ps Mss ction eet
ela eoIme sa bore Ace Mier ae ee pe Duly 2S pee WSs oes ereentececteecer
Oe Ne ING ye Dee ete Atelier betins eh senor es Ahh Yay Chieclidems Goncidsbasooce
Sl OUNeLe barSeAra cr. cde eine sins Tully 28 cied VAR. es eens
A ee 22h OMA teu Vierel pane neetees ca ieuaienthe DuUlyy 2S; Gied hatch eaters
Oia pone cc D WePAs eee cies, nailer ec Aupusteleidied'siv. cert rter

Average length of moulting period, 24.6 days.*

* Nos. 12-15 have been included in this data because the long delay in the moulting of these
four lobsters was also undoubtedly due to the lack of sufficient food.

Length of the
Moulting Period.

14.
14.

0 days.
0 days.
17.0 days.
19.0 days.
19.9 days.
20.6 days.
22.5 days.
22.5 days.
23.0 days.
24.5 days.*
28.5 days *
29.0 days.*
33.0 days.*
33.0 days.*
36.0 days.*

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 109

c. Discussion of Results.

The results of these experiments show that the average length of
the moulting period of these fourth-stage-lobsters when fed on

different food, was as follows:

LEYS Sige ee Re En a Ae OPM are CR Ok Re Rev eRe § 11.2 days.
On Shen eds ClAIM sete oreo a eta crete Sie. sc os Woe week 11.3 days.
BO USCET: SIMMS Ca pea hel fo AMAA Sear dal ahs o OS eee ee 11.5 days.
Shreddedsfishys or6 9 facts veh cat ove Meee 3S eae ee tee 11.7 days.
BCI) Pak yeh ahclen OMAP eam bP Ae eh Rete REESE Aer AE a og Beale ks leak 12.3 days.

That all other food factors, except the particular food used in each
ease, were practically eliminated in these results is demonstrated by
the fact that the average length of the moulting period for the
lobsters which were not fed was over twice as long, or 24.6 days.

It is evident, therefore, that in these experiments the clam, beef,
lobster muscle, and fish were practically equal in food value, with
perhaps a slight advantage in favor of beef. The beef liver was the
least satisfactory—a rather unexpected result, for beef liver is suc-
cessfully used in trout hatcheries, and it was hoped it might prove
equally satisfactory for the lobster.

Reviewing these results with reference to the choice of a food for
the lobsters, it is evident that lobster muscle and fish may be with-
drawn from further consideration. For these foods do not appear
to be any more nutritive than clam or beef, and the necessary sac-
rifice of adult lobsters in the use of the former and the oily char-
acter of the fish discredit their use for practical purposes. Liver
certainly is the cheapest food, but it seems to be the least nutritive,
and, moreover, it was observed to decay more quickly than other
foods. It appears, therefore, that the only remaining food tried
which might prove an improvement over the present use of the
soft-shelled clam is beef.

In view of these results it was thought desirable to further test
the comparative value of beef and clam for the practical work of

110 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES, —

lobster rearing. This has been done in the following experiments.

I desire here to express my indebtedness to Mr. L. N. Wight,
through whose assistance these experiments were brought to a
successful conclusion.

IV. EXPERIMENTS TO DETERMINE THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF
BEEF AND CLAM FOR REARING NEWLY HatcHED LOBSTERS.

a. Hxperiments and Results.

In order to test the comparative food value and actual cost of
beef and clam, the following experiments were made in two of the
regular rearing bags of the lobster hatchery.

These rearing bags are made of canvas. Each bag is about eleven
feet square and four feet in depth, with three windows of fine-mesh
copper wire netting, one window being on the bottom and one on
each of two opposite sides of the bags. A two-bladed paddle, not
unlike a restaurant fan, is kept revolving slowly in each bag. The
current of water thus created by the paddle serves not only to change
the water in each bag, but also tends both to keep the food in cir-
culation and at the same time to prevent the lobster fry from
settling to the bottom.

Two of the rearing bags were selected for the present experiments.
On July 11th, 40,000 lobsters which had just hatched. were carefully
counted from the hatching bags; 20,000 of these first stage lobsters
were placed in each of the two rearing bags.

All of the conditions in these two rearing bags were kept as nearly
alike as possible. The lobsters in one bag were fed with the soft parts
of the clam, which had been cut out from the shell and finely ground
in a meat grinder. The lobsters in the second bag were fed finely
ground beef. Food was given three or four times in every twenty-
four hours. In order to obtain an accurate estimate of the cost, the
food was carefully weighed.

The lobsters were kept in the rearing bags until they had all
moulted to the fourth stage, June 24. These lobsters were then

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Hai

counted, and it was found that out of the 20,000 clam-fed lobsters
7,818 had lived to the fourth stage, while out of the 20,000 beef-fed
lobsters 8,125 had lived to the fourth stage. In other words, 4
per cent. more fourth-stage lobsters were obtained from the fry fed
on beef than from the fry fed on clam.

b. Comparative Cost.

The actual amount and cost of the beef and clam used in each
experiment is shown in the following records:

TABLE VII.

Showing Amount of Beef and Clam used in Rearing 40,000 Lobsters.

RearinG Bac No. 1. RearinG Bac No. 2.

Amount of clams fed. Amount of beef fed.
Why eho IeAG Mis os oh aaa saa sted MUO oTAMIS S62) ire iterate tee repetone 110 grams.
(Pua UT IN, ESV ees a anee 9 ote aeh en ZEON AMOS: 5 cise. <2 tin se ct sh 220 grams.

ied rey LE edie eae ee LE ONOTraIMS Ht. Bie teagan oars een ses 110 grams.
LOGE MIR soe apes total eer a rausia INU ea Poise Shem ee aes et ak 110 grams.
DS MA ACM rey a, alates eatetarie a yeas MANO reaieh caves Aatoton Bioes ole tha bin ero ole 110 grams.
Lee OT AEM eae cette s a's her aie) sans ALAND) fea ery aaN=iGe ares caced eee eOe ores 110 grams.
SOPs Miers eercay hy wicks ts. Grghcs iO} oramissye eee Loyeioema eters 110 grams.
125 ae) WA Le Seo UN On arash ete hse chs tere rane ac oes 110 grams.
A SSVI Ss ct EPR iar ol LAO} ora MSN ars tera eee ec 101 grams..
LO PARIMESS O55e% avy au Mero cees LU OSeramise ss gate toe tars coon 110 grams.
Spay ME coe ael snp noha 10). sramiscrti AN p eed yy aera 110 grams.
US er 0 en ae ee TO oramises. po Sisttoep ns ier paencdasie 110 grams.
A NCAR a oor tee ar spon sik ee 11.0) grams.5 ck aoh eos ons -..110 grams.
Oe het Sem nies slo L1Q.grams'pa. racetrack ote 2 110 grams.
1A A ee IO grams. chaste bees Gee 110 grams.
US el VAN Need? Dl et ee iO) rams Naeem aie ea tee 110 grams.
(a hl of hy lence Sat Ree eee eee I Osora mish eases eiaie ae 110 grams.
iy lPAC AMI ann waravabe sh adele bi has DLO SramMss teks Pa ea oe 110 grams.
LNG NLS eee ee RROD DLO) oramse sure ene eas eas 110 grams.
poe EN ee eam Sts oe Ras ote 5 PLO erase weno eek es 110 grams.
2) J cee del: ShcA i a TO soramishieeateeee ee ee net 110 grams.

US Gale Ame iteemenciansotna cans sioaye iors J OVOTaATN SPA errcts asec ail. ae 110 grams.

£12 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

REARING BaG No. 1. REARING BaG No. 2.

Amount of clams fed. Amount of beef fed.
OAR MMIES: Bree sits sos eeemee ere EO Kora S erate ele Te mano Oe 110 grams.
Sa Mirah x wi erree Ate tere LUO eramiss hte cae. |i eke 110 grams.
TTS ees NSAI 8 ar Ree Na TAOn Sramas see tes ecto Alt A aeheese eee 110 grams.
(5) SANS TIN Ue Satreeteemncte tokotal saree ULANOR eqhonlshaes so welo mee oe parame 110 grams.
See Misia a Reve beeee se enero VOR Oras ee ee ae reheat 110 grams.
DOP OrAS eM fos od uke eee eaters U1 Oseramises. Seah merece cir 110 grams.
OBR EM rces tanaetachekis tater LLOV erase ote sGi eee 110 grams.
241 anit Ue RR UA SN arn sy ou Nes Se ALO} orennisypeantysc, <1. 32 ye weerore. 110 grams.
NINE OME RS enone coated eek sti aeresere TA Ole ramissst. sci tet efron 110 grams.
SiN Meee. Geka eae gate aes IMO korams* hae se chs. cee 110 grams.
Dee AGAIN Re (belts oko east tedy eaten iO Weaeeeh aalshoRetere euler Grond ti orcrdirotorerc 110 grams.
SPM csiccatae Soi caxacho eetioet 0 Wen Pn anstoneey mice ana Cosa ere Ora 2 + 50 grams.
Tatts De SN Dons Gesesteenn Cheeni oc OO; oma S Beast tae neve eee + 50 grams.
Se R IMA abt aren, dee OOVSTAMS Hares uso hobs + 50 grams.
DA mA SAS ING ye crow ores seks chet oer OO FOTAING ERE ore eae ener y+ 50 grams.
OLAS Elon. Mote eels ee beates, tale Stall) (Kaew, os ows edagde cao os 3,980 grams.

The beef cost 12 cents a pound. Consequently the total cost of
the beef used in these experiments, 3,980 grams, was $1.05.
The cost of the clams varied from $1.25 to $1.50 a bushel. The
average price may therefore be taken as about $1.85 per bushel.
The soft parts of a bushel of clams when cut out of the shell were found
_to weigh about 4,830 grams. The 3,980 grams of ground clam fed
in the experiments, therefore, equals .824 bushel of clams in the
shell, and, at $1.85 a bushel, cost $1.11. To this must be added the
labor of cutting out the clams from the shell, an item of expense
which is not involved in using beef. Cutting out a bushel of average
size clams requires about two hours labor, which, even at 15 cents
an hour, gives an additional expense of about 25 cents. So that the
total cost of the clam used in the experiment amounts to $1.35.
In these experiments, therefore, the clams cost 28 per cent. more
than the beef. At the same time 4 per cent. more lobsters were

* In these cases beef was used because fresh clams were not available at the time.
+ On July 22 a large number of fourth stage lobster were removed from the bags and the
amount of food was accordingly reduced.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 113

reared to the fourth stage from the beef-fed lobsters than from the
lobsters fed with clams.
Another item which must not be overlooked in comparing these

results is that of waste. In the clam, the siphon, or ‘

‘snout,’ and
other cuticular tissues form a considerable part of its flesh. These
cuticular structures, as Dr. L. W. Williams has observed, are ‘“‘regu-
larly rejected by the lobster,’’ and only eaten in the absence of other
food.* In beef there is a much smaller amount of such inedible
material, consequently there is much less waste involved in feeding
beef than clam.

The subject of supply is also a matter of considerable practical
importance. The supply of clam is more irregular and uncertain
than beef. For in securing fresh clams dependence is placed on the
local clamdigger, but on account of tide and weather and other
exigencies, the hatchery is frequently short in the supply of fresh
clams. On the other hand, fresh beef is always available in the
markets.

V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.

A series of experiments was made to test the value of different
foods for rearing young lobsters. The following results were
obtained:

1. It was found that fourth-stage lobsters grew as well when fed
on beef, if not better, than when fed on clam, fish, lobster muscle, or
beef liver.

2. In an experiment with 40,000 lobsters just hatched, 4 per
cent. more lobsters were reared to the fourth stage from the beef-
fed, than from the clam-fed lobsters.

3. The beef cost 28 per cent. less than the clam.

4. These results suggest the adoption of beef instead of clam as
a food for rearing young lobsters, for the following reasons:

* L. W. Williams: ‘‘The Stomach of the Lobster and the Food of Larval Lobsters.”’ 37th
Annual Report of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries, 1907, p. 153-180.
15

114 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

a. Lobsters can be as successfully reared on beef as on clam.

b. Beef is much cheaper.

c. There is more inedible waste material in clam than in an
equal weight of beef. .

d. This waste material is especially undesirable because it favors
the growth of alge and sessile diatoms, injurious to the lobster fry.

e. In practical work there is greater regularity and certainty in
securing a constant supply of beef than there is in the case of clam.

5. It may be added that, as the result of these experiments, it
has been decided, in next season’s work at the lobster hatchery, to
give beef a thorough trial as a food for rearing lobster fry.

REPORT OE COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 115

Tue SALT—WaTER AQUARIUM AND SEA—FARMING EXHIBIT AT THE
WASHINGTON County Farr.

For the fourth year the Commission has made an exhibit at the
annual fair of the Washington County Agricultural Association, under
the suggestive title of ‘sea farming.”

The main feature of the exhibit for the year 1907 was the salt-water
aquarium. After a large amount of experimenting a scheme was
put into operation which provided a constant current of clear salt
water in the aquarium, in which fishes and invertebrates of various
kinds lived for four or five days without the usual signs of sluggishness
and sickness.

The several miles distance from the sea and fact that the aquarium
is necessarily of temporary and inexpensive installation created a
new problem in aquarium management, but the combined efforts
of the president of the agricultural association, one of the members
of this Commission, superintendent of the Wickford station, and
the very willing and ingenious corps of assistants have brought
success out of the many difficulties.

The exhibit we feel is worth the trouble, for it affords a means of
instruction and stimulation of interest to many thousands of the
citizens of the State.

APPENDIX A.

UNITED STATES BUREAU OF FISHERIES,

WasuHinaton, D. C.

Commissioner.

GEORGE M. BOWERS.

Deputy Commissioner.
HUGH M. SMITH.
Chief Clerk.

i Be DUNEAP:

Assistant in Charge of Division of Inquiry Respecting Food Fishes.
B. W. EVERMANN.

Assistant in Charge of Division of Fish Culture.

JOHN W. TITCOMB.

Assistant in Charge of Division of Statistics and Methods of the Fisheries.

A. B. ALEXANDER.

Architect and Engineer.

HECTOR VON BAYER.

STATE FISHERIES AUTHORITIES.

(List based upon most recent information at hand, date of which is given for
each state.)

ALABAMA.

State Game and Fish Commissioner (1907).
POMNPHSAVAMACE IE tek ncratces icles cre eek ee eto aasete oe Montgomery.

ARIZONA.

Fish and Game Commission (1905).

BLL MSV SUTIGE 6.5.1 '4 a ree e etc ate wee erate yale ais! wisieicre tevaVela leveiaielete tees Safford.

ume Ne PA UMSOM ereL i, ee). ee eiel sieie alors ore atetara a ans intel wana telat Jerome,

DAV) ME EDUMY SCCLCUANY, olciainy!/ysicieelsiera cers Mic tieucet sete poneee ota te Phoenix. .
CALIFORNIA,

California Fish Commission (December, 1906).

We WeivantArsaalewPresidents- see aacecace ctr eames San Francisco.

Wa iGerber ican aban ernie anuncre tay at acl Sideresateyene eaeeete Sacramento.

OMA MBErmim rama eee scr cectelichovcrans noel hetelalei aeetese tevetetena Pinole.

Charles A. Vogelslang, Chief Deputy.................... San Francisco.
CoLoRabo.

Department of Game and Fisheries (May, 1907).

Davide Harr Commissioners ccleaner Denver.
©. W. Lake, Deputy Commissioner..................... Denver.
Ry bipparcier, (Chief i Glerke i). osc see ao ne eerie Denver.

W.S. Kincaid, General Superintendent, State Hatcheries. Denver.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 119

CONNECTICUT.

Department of Fish and Game (December, 1906).

George T. Mathewson, President.................-200.: Thompsonville.
EVO Derby Gee llcesems i syore «6 sy5 1s cbieceresioid, odie dove el uate ey sera Middletown.
Herat Geers SECretaryines costes sis cheis ode els oi sneiciote MO Hadlyme.

Connecticut Shellfish Commission (1906).

Georee: CW BldOa.cs ae so sreis' say skolnetemsisue Hes ore se rberetarens Bridgeport.

Christians Clwanrtezeeters vy c nk eee ol ate aclerel olcreteehehieieiokens South Norwalk.

WVittlirmeMAu WichteLie en tte-Arcycic cise & cloteap sicher nein Che orate New Haven.
FLORIDA.

Florida Fish Commission (1907).

John Y. Detwiler, Honorary Commissioner.............. New Smyrna.

GEORGIA.
Superintendent of Fisheries (December, 1906).

Avi Dallish. «ss dies WRU aELiet ai saya ahs, ay ehrel sas eer ee Tavte teal ovavag sree La Grange.

IDAHO.
State Fish and Game Warden (1906).

WEEN SCEDheNS 3 P23 so chs Sela 'e iets bnele-c wie, Naarna reese eae Rexburg.

ILLINOIS.

Board of State Fish Commissioners (1907).

Nat H. Wohensy Presid Cribs .jaiayavs o: cvicilsis = Gis lovo.) Sale kere eee Urbana.

RVenrya lene ays niet sis Oca oleioi ai a sno ore soi a ay a oraeetorerteee oe Chicago.

S. P. Bartlett, Secretary and Superintendent............. Quincy.
INDIANA.

Commissioner of Fisheries and Game (December, 1906).

Zi Wap OW GUC VENA TE Ets) ies 6 aim 5 area Sis craic at ae dtate Sete WET Columbus.

120 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Towa.

State Fish and Game Warden (December, 1906).
AGEOLPOYACEUNM COM, ffs 3) 4.ced igs Senet ate I EE Cedar Rapids.

IXANSAS.

State Fish Warden (December, 1906).
ADAP AVIS 381. oii ys couse Netelerstelorets loveknte rete seeks ois oh Meio ene Pratt.

LOUISIANA.

Oyster Commission of Louisiana (1907).

ays MiaBreaux: Presidents: -< 62-c.. aise ate le weteeioces Mele or Houma.

ClementiStonycuceeccects = eee eee ee ea. Melonie.

Horace vel lar veya. cave ccs cts tele Re cleleteus cle Ste eicbae «74 Harvey.

BS erage el Sai; arate Bes ogee etn cede tive NIG dese ate eae nk Seon eeaeNe Pilottown.

PNP RLO MELO ThIMAT Ns eRe eels etroncy eee ote etc te eee ecko Thibodaux.
MAINE.

Commissioners of Inland Fisheries (December, 1906).

Hheroy dy Carleton, Ghalnman. ci. s,.Vetssve soit athlete aaererten. Augusta.
SRA EMESrae Ket tsacia ts «Weir ioe lemon ems ton ore wenger ea ai Phillips.
idgar Er. Ring. Secretaryee. sf. ssw «sis steer ee ale cle teal Orono.

Commissioner of Sea and Shore Fisheries (December, 1906).

Paes HO OMOMUME sem ee eteaie ree THRO Oe Chott one aise chee TE Rockland.

MARYLAND.

State Fish Commission (1907).

J.-H. Wade, Commissioner for Western Shore... «\s-\ les oie eer
Samuel Twilley, Commissioner for Eastern Shore..............-...+eeeeeeees

Shellfish Commission (1907).

WialtendJ= mitchell Chairm<cante eeiieraeiie ies ee teen La Plata.
Benj ksGreen, dineasurer.. 1. bee © ee ea ee Westover.
Dra CaswelliGrave.Secretanyes carci sci -lekere le eietokerere rater Baltimore.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 121

MASSACHUSETTS,

Commission of Fisheries and Game (1907).

Drea Gases hield: Ghaimman.. <<. 0c.0s se ceeee Je eee boston.
J. W. Delano, Superintendent of Hatcheries....... ajaetefe « BOSTON.
aj, Ak, JBUENA ME Rite. ote ao Ohi caine eC IOS O DOC AC Winchester.

MICHIGAN.

State Board of Fish Commissioners (December, 1906).

(pl) a OslineseresicLenitive s aac miele cshele) 2 isiarctars O eraratarete Detroit,
EE be Dickerson ViCe=PTesid Gmitiesin.)c 2 .c)s's1sc-2 srs. 6.s1ne heres Detroit.
CORE ie DUG Wikera, ogee cie «Sc Siaststtnn Seadoo 6, Sola « Rsvapente Saginaw.
Seymour Bower, Superintendent of Hatcheries........... Detroit.

MINNESOTA.

Board of Fish and Game Commissioners (1907).

OR OMNSOn RTESIG eM tie acre s.0 s'eyel ssl «Sis Asieysieys, oly eae St. Paul.
Carlos Avery, First Vice-President:... 23.2.2 .26006.0600% St. Paul.
John H. Grill, Second Vice-President.................... St. Paul.
EPS Capos ti ECL LAT va ee ale oh cation cba aictere. oia's ans ev erocoes St. Paul.

Seu Hullerton bxecubive Acentas. umes ties ccs aes 2 Duluth.

MISSOURI.

Missouri State Fish Commission (March, 1907).

Ruichardekonter wWeresid ene ayes secs cae cieseie elie cree . Paris.

We El. uches, Vice-president.....: 2.0.0: .00s0 tes aceane St. Louis.

reve shortall Secretanyency. ccc ccs on se ieee eee St. Louis.

OHNE GAD ISR Ns Prat. ce be Areas Aah a ae ee ete ee Browning.

VATU Irae Hose ere seh ee Size sigh lsis.c. San 2 oa cee eee St. Joseph.
MonrtvANA.

State Game and Fish Warden (December, 1906).
WAR EB SC OU UMCMNL IS Niche ie & ok dc raiccd xadin anon dine lol, ceeteh oe Pee Helena.

NEBRASKA (December, 1906).

Governor, Commussioner €x-ojficio......: .. ss bes eee ne. Lincoln.
George. I. CartersChie® Warden: , .:..:..s.cbe asa aes Lincoln.
W. J. O’Brien, Superintendent of Hatcheries............. Gretna.

16

22 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

New HaAmpsHIRE.

Fish and Game Commission (1906).

Nathanieluyentworth; (Chairman icc). :)ieelpele arte eieiee Hudson Center.
Charles's Clark HinancialeA gent) eile terial senereaen: Concord.
Merrll:Shurtleff, Secretary .. 2. ...400 eS 3. semi teen oe Lancaster.

NEw JERSEY.

Fish and Game Commission (1907).

IBID IMOERISs Aion LU oe esr Noy Mens Sh. CR NT Long Branch.
TS PUTADBEY CIUIST BAM Syeratoeie, | ay CMR tee ep eres ete. Camden.

DD PHMc@leliianerndtves tvs £4 a aes Ci abel eects ef hse Morristown.
[EUS E Kiel Ro) atat=toy acs Matec We tree etal M a eeeu MES Ie eT Gee > cho yatorere nee ate Bloomfield.
J. M. Stratton, Fish and Game Protector................ Long Branch.

State Bureau of Shell Fisheries.

Charles; Rabacon Chichen nett ser aetna tones Camden.

Hie aie Vee acs Meee Mae nea, eves san hays fie, Nn oe Rope aa Newport.

He eae LAGER: ed Eee es ne nae ee eae eae Site SSO Wu RE ath ta Fort Norris.
enema HAN Og Ge Ia. eye seiyeitcluiets iceyiee js sets smell ebnmtcNans arog Bridgeport.
Wyn erode eee eet pee Aha Me Set, oH NEN Keyport.

A. T. Bacon, Superintendent of Hatcheries.............. Mauricetown.

New York.

Forest, Fish and Game Commission (1907).

Jase. Wihtpple; Commissioners.) .\ns-1 =e) sis ee Albany.

J. Duncan Lawrence, Deputy Commissioner.............4 Albany.

John D> Wihish, Secretary... 5.0644 onion sas 6 are te se awe aoe Albany.

Dr. T. H. Bean, State Fish Culturist...1 Madison Avenue, New York.

B. Frank Wood, Superintendent of Shell Fisheries........ Jamaica.

Wm. F. Fox, Superintendent of Forests.................4 Albany.
NEVADA.

State Fish Commissioners (1907).

Géorme Ta Mills IO Sr ale Ut ow 02. a per enmerse ae Carson.
EK. B. Yerington....
EL ae Coryell: tee Pte ay 3 be cca P bd MOAN os. Wells.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

NortH CAROLINA.

State Fish Commissioner (1907).

MeO OLEL OV Gekans cies isis cos akoyhes co ceis ee eR ee ee Manteo.

Shellfish Commissioner (1907).

\ivis DUR VG 6 cae ig ae Ne ES Morehead City.

Nortua Dakota.
Game Wardens (1905).
Wie SGHIECH GEIR ie ier cee tan nective a tae aici aoe Fessenden.
AWVarraeg VIG IXe sintene un ey Wy icy yer iene neiicg shaw alelode cee, a elaiavingvstee omen: Sanborn.

OHIO.

Fish and Game Commission (1906).

Raia Nvorthaseresicenitiateenn mn ace na ee a eee Cleveland.

“ADE: “1 BX SD Bas p-q ra eee Re ee RR ae 2 OC PPR en I Cincinnati.

PRUE GR COlay eee een AY A ance Naha ecm, spy atsbS. 4 uelats. os Dayton.

George i GEC ae ae eae Pine naa a a Steubenville.

ee Liem LVamcaiaers tr OMe ee) i lca icia tae oon auatn ten, 2 tae South Charleston.
OKLAHOMA.

Territorial Game and Fish Warden (1907).
HUSeN eR bTOUSs ox ccc hla ic seers ch doen tale eee noe eet riey Enid.

OREGON.

Board of Fish Commissioners.

GOV EDTIO TI hte ore ae Sree pa eee eae Salem.
MEELE LAY Ol UALR. fe rs i lyn crite ela es cepa eae Salem.
SATOH EFOASUITGI Ty ya acest eee ee ee Spy oh) aE eee el Salem.

H. GoAVANSDUSEINA Ae en ctete hy See a tae lata See Astoria.

PENNSYLVANIA.

Department of Fisheries (1907).

Wel eMlcchan aC ommisstoner. 4)... +s ocr ree eel Harrisburg.
JOD Tamer sern tet fais 56d soci hte Ae ASA SOE es Erie.

124 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Henny Cs Coxe ca eeeg ei). ae Se ee ee eee eee Wellsboro.
Andrew .. Whitaker. 2... 20s. seule eye ie Se Ae eRe ar Sg Phoenixville.
Wie Av dbeisenrine 1-2. heat Se eR eee ae Mauch Chunk.

RuHopeE ISLaANnp.

Commissioners of Inland Fisheries (1907).

Henry T. Root, President, Treasurer and Auditor........ Providence.
J. 1. Southwick, Vice-president. 7). 2.032 922.2. he =: Newport.
AShiavles AW.) Willard js Sd <isf sl Oren y dg rah: Rade meee Nene Be Westerly.
FAVED ANCA ene eee oe ee Brown University, Providence.
W. P. Morton, Secretary.................P.O. Box 966, Providence.
AdelbertiD wRoObertse oe ee saeee eee eee P. O. Box 264, Woonsocket.
WailltamvE Boardman jeecociile > 2 ntloe cicteiiereerel-ieienr iene Central Falls.

Commissioners of Shell Fisheries (1907).

Philip ves Wallboureny..235. on. sere ee eee bar ee Soe eee Little Compton.
James M. Wright aT yA ene Reinert eM TER oa get SAGs Clayville.

ohm gee AN OED UD: taretetee ecto eee irale eee Serre yy Ee Apponaug.
GPOLPCRUWEVELORIG ehh tele ie inate Ses aye Bi Aa epee eee nora Shannock.
Herbert iM Gardiner: 22 eye ya Me es cies cite ve eras Barrington.

SoutH CAROLINA.

State Board of Fisheries (1907).

JameseMeahete .@hairmarn seeps eerie emia ein: Beaufort.

NEAIME AG ASG UG eee cyrntecaics 2 se och ayevetees a eieeiete oie ake See Le Marion.

George Si Mowers... 4° Quin SG REE Siete eletedene Is ote oe tersoms Newberry.
TENNESSEE.

State Game and Fish Warden (1906).
JosephiH; -Acklerm Ais aowies cite ont eneitidrein ome be te lcreionerene Nashville.

TEXAS.

State Fish and Oyster Commissioner (1907).
Ihe Spgs) Gil] oy: MA ae Ree meee Roars keri ae WEE Weis yo cae Port Lavaca.

UTAH.
State Fish and Game Commissioner (1905).
John Sharpes i <n athe «ck Re EM RRS aoe Salt Lake City.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

VERMONT.

Commissioner of Fisheries and Game (1907).

Pied Coens Crem ROMA haa eo Fil 5.5) 0% es sok oon hy 2s a ee Stowe.
VIRGINIA.

State Board of Fisheries (1905).
WeeMicDomal dulbeeyae.s seicinisc scent: so deo eee ae eee tee Irvington.
S. Wilkins Matthews (care of Mr. Lee).................. Irvington.
eorer bu Weezellnna cs yen great oka ks «cea ceeme eee Keezletown.
RoOrer Aer amesn(Careion Mireluee) sea sc ssa deere Irvington.
Bland! Massie (care of. Mrolee)i25. io. 3 oe ec ec kk ee hee Irvington.

WASHINGTON.
Department of Fisheries and Game.
Report of Fish Commissioners.

<BiONA SVE ASS Ee RCL S ESR ERE ge eas ae ena en Olympia.
Pate DRCaS UTC TI cre nis pow lre nM nIa thor fac) cesta a ails Olympia.

State Fish Commissioner and Game Warden,

| ko aa gl U9 aay) ar Weer ame at ee ee oe Pn Bellingham.

WEsT VIRGINIA.

State Game and Fish Warden (1905).

J. Marcum. ...... Bisa ante eich Salen oliatetersia eo, oat eteaes Huntington.

be WISCONSIN.

Commissioner of Fisheries (1907).

BETCRG OV GED OD. t. eroyeyaciare,s10 one tiers. eva a.c.5 9.008 snsiarg Seana Moree Madison.
Catvertcpensley,, President s..% 2. 625. snendeacceedes soe Mineral Point.
James: J, Hogan; Vice-president... 0... 0 genus edes as La Crosse.

Bee sas SIT REM SEOKECAEY «cho ara: 9,5. oi's,0: sci ei siere: 49 Reel eee Madison.
AUPE EL capitis es SURI at Pais, dS oes, Secale, W's, 0.316 oj; 3a oe Selene ne < Eau Claire.
BELG AAT ye Dey CHEMI Ks tate teh oss. a) Sees oja-aiey = va va aiarw el ar abeenererae eo! Appleton.
Sete a ALEC Mea tab come o.3! 5~s)'2hais “aye t)56. 0h bal Geee REE a Madison.

WN ANY TONY. CR IR Mes ia 3 a\t-8 5 < oh Sf sergeas s/aelayelicae: Shedetetsctes a Stesetone Madison.

4 bk Orie
f

FISHERIES LAW OF RHODE ISLAND, 1905.

[Compiled by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries.]

GENERAL LAWS.

CHAPTER 1.

The jurisdiction of the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries covers the territorial
limits of the State as given in the following two sections of chapter one, and
covers all the fisheries of the State except the oyster and scallop fisheries, which
are under the jurisdiction of the shell fish commissioners.

Secrion 1. The territorial limits of this state extend one marine league
from its seashore at high water mark. When an inlet or arm of the sea does not
exceed two marine leagues in width between its headlands, a straight line from
one headland to the other is equivalent to the shore-line. The boundaries of
counties bordering on the sea extend to the line of the state as above defined.

Sec. 2. The jurisdiction of the state shall extend to, and embrace, all places
within the boundaries thereof, except as to those places that have been ceded to
the United States, or have been purchased by the United States with the consent
of the state.

CHAPTER 171.
Of Certain Fisheries.

Section 1. Every person who shall set or draw any seine in any part of the
river running from Warren river through the town of Barrington, except that
part lying north of the Congregational church building in the said town of Bar-
rington, shall forfeit twenty dollars.

Src. 2. Every person who shall set or draw any seine or net in Easton’s
pond in Newport and Middletown for the purpose ‘of catching fish, or shall set

128 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

any such net or seine in the creeks or inlets of said pond above the bridge at.
Easton’s beach, shall be fined twenty dollars or be imprisoned ten days.

Src. 8. Every person who shall set or draw any seine or net in Kickamuit
river within half a mile from the place called the narrows shall forfeit fifteen
dollars.

Src. 4. Every person who shall erect or make any weir, pot, or other contri-
vance to obstruct the course of fish across Puncatest, alias Nomquit, pond, or
any part thereof, or in any river or stream leading into or out of said pond at
any time, shall forfeit ten dollars.

Src. 5. Every person who shall set any hanging or mesh net in Puncatest
alias Nomquit, pond, or in any river leading into or out of said pond, between
the first day of January and the first day of August, shall forfeit ten dollars.

Src. 6. Every person who shall erect or continue in Palmer’s river, above
Kelly’s bridge, any weir, dam, or other obstruction to prevent the free passage
of fish up said river, shall forfeit fifteen dollars for the first offence and ten dollars
for every twenty-four hours any such weir or dam or other obstruction shall be
continued after the first twenty-four hours.

Sec. 7. Every person not at the time an inhabitant of this state who shall
ret or draw any seine or net in Palmer’s river, above Kelly’s bridge, on Thursday,
Friday, or Saturday, and every person who shall set or draw any seine or net in
said river above said bridge on Sunday, or between the setting and rising of the
sun, shall forfeit for each offence fifteen dollars.

Sec. 8. Repealed.

Sec. 9. Repealed.

Sec. 10. Repealed.

Sec. 11. No person shall take any fish with any kind of gill or mesh net,
or set any gill or mesh net for the purpose of taking any fish therewith, within
one mile from the shore of Block Island, between the first day of June and the
first day of November in each year, without first obtaining permission of the
town council of New Shoreham; and every person violating any provision of
this section shall be fined twenty dollars for each offence; one-half to the use of
the complainant and the other half to the use of the town of New Shoreham.

Src. 12. -Any person who shall take any fish with any kind of seine, net, or
trap, or set or draw any seine, net, or trap, for the purpose of taking any fish there-
with, in any of the fresh water ponds in the town of New Shoreham, except in
private ponds owned by one person, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars
or be imprisoned not exceeding ten days, or be both fined and imprisoned in
the discretion of the court.

Src. 13. The electors of the town of New Shoreham may, in town meeting
called for that purpose, enact such ordinances as they may think proper to pro-

APPENDIX. 129

tect and to regulate the taking of shell-fish and other fish in Great Salt pond, and
may impose penalties therefor not exceeding twenty dollars fine and three months’
imprisonment for any one offence.

Src. 14. The electors of the town of Tiverton may, in town meeting called
for that purpose, make such regulations for the preservation of the fish, and may
exercise such control over the fisheries of Nomquit pond, within the limits of
said town, as they may think proper.

Src. 15. No person shall, between the first Monday in October and the first
Monday in January, erect any weir or draw any seine or net for the purpose of
catching or obstructing the passage of fish at or within one hundred and sixty
rods of the mouth of Pataquamscut river in South Kingstown, nor shall any per-
son erect or put down any weir, standing seine, or trap-seine, or hoop-net of _
any kind, either within or across said river at any other season of the year.

Sec. 16. Nothing in the preceding section shall be so construed as to pro-
hibit any person from using nets or fishing crafts for the catching of smelts,
such as are commonly used in the smelt fishery, between the first day of Feb-
ruary and the first day of April, or to prohibit the setting of gill nets for bass in
said river or pond: Provided, that such nets shall not exceed twenty fathoms in
length, nor be set within twenty fathoms of each other, nor-south of the dividing
line between lands now or formerly of William G. Watson and George W. Crandall,
nor within twenty rods of the narrows that connect the upper and lower ponds;
nor shall any person maintain any such standing seine or net in the same place
for more than twenty-four hours if any other person demands the same place
for the purpose of setting a like net or drawing a seine therein.

Sec. 17. Every person who shall violate any of the provisions of the preced-
ing two sections shall be fined not less than twenty dollars nor more than fifty
dollars for each offence, and shall forfeit the seine, net, boat, and other apparatus
* by him used in such violation.

Sec. 18. Every person who shall set any trap or net or draw any seine at
any time west of a line drawn from Calf-pasture Point on the north side of Allen’s
harbor to Rocky Point on the south side thereof, or west of a line drawn from
Pojack Point on the south side of Potowomut river to Marsh Point on the north
side thereof, shall be fined not less than five dollars nor more than twenty dollars;
one-half thereof to the use of the complainant and one-half thereof to the use
of the state.

Src. 19. No person shall between the fifteenth day of April and the fifteenth
day of June, inclusive of both days, or between the fifteenth day of August and
the fifteenth day of December, inclusive of both days, commencing at the rising
of the sun on both days, erect any weir or set or draw any seine or net for obstruct-
ing, catching, or hauling of fish within half a mile east from Point Judith ponds

17

130 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

breach, meaning the breach for the time being into the sea, or within a point
on the west side of said breach four rods distant from Joseph Champlin’s fish-
house, so called, or within said breach, or within any channel leading to said
ponds, or any branch thereof from the sea, or within a quarter of a mile of the
entrance of such channel into said ponds or branches of said ponds; and when-
ever the fifteenth day of December happens on Sunday this prohibition shall
continue to the rising of the sun on the next succeeding day.

Src. 20. No weir shall be erected, nor any standing seine or net set, in any
part of Charlestown pond, Quonochontaug pond, or Babcock’s pond, other-
wise know as Brightman’s pond, nor across the channel, or in Point Judith’s
ponds within a quarter of a mile from the following places, namely: Alder Point
near where Saukatucket river flows into said ponds; Princes narrows, which
connects the upper with the lower ponds; Strawberry hill on Great Island;
High Point, so-called, on lands of the heirs of Joseph Sherman, and Gooseberry
Hole.

Src. 21. No person shall, between sunset on the first Monday in April and
sunrise on the second Monday in June, erect any weir or net or draw any seine
or net for the purpose of catching or obstructing the passage of fish in any part
of Point Judith pond south of a line drawn from the most northerly point of
Strawberry hill on Great Island to the most northerly point of High Point in
said pond.

Src. 22. No person shall erect any weir or set or draw any seine or net for
the obstructing, catching, or hauling of fish within any part of said ponds or any
branch thereof, at any time between sunset on the fifteenth day of August and
sunrise on the fifteenth day of December.

Src. 23. No seine or net of any sort shall be used at any time within said
ponds or any branch thereof, of over one hundred fathoms in length, nor any
standing seine or net of over twenty-five fathoms in length.

Src. 24. No person shall set any standing seine or net, at any time, within
forty rods of any place within said ponds or any branch thereof where another
person may have already set his standing seine or net, nor shall any person
maintain any such standing seine or net in the same place for more than forty-
eight hours if any other person desires to occupy the place.

Src. 25. Every person violating any provision of the preceding six sections
shall be fined not less than twenty dollars nor more than fifty dollars, and shall
also forfeit the boat, seine, net, and other apparatus by him used in such viola-
tion, one-half of said fine and forfeiture to the use of the person complaining and
one-half thereof to the use of the state.

Src. 26. Every person living without the state who shall take any lobsters,
tautog, bass, or other fish within the harbors, rivers, or waters of this state, for

APPENDIX. 131

the purpose of carrying them thence in vessels or smacks, shall be fined ten dol-
lars for every offence, and shall forfeit all the fish or lobsters so taken.

Src. 27. Every person who shall take any fish in any stream or fresh pond,
except upon his own land, otherwise than by a single hook and line, or who shall
take or carry away any fish from any private pond, brook, stream, preserve, or
any other place made, constructed, or used for the purpose of breeding or grow-
ing fish therein, without the consent of the proprietor or lessee of such pond,
brook, stream, or preserve, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars or be im-
prisoned not exceeding thirty days, or be both fined and imprisoned; but noth-
ing herein contained shall be so construed as to authorize the taking of any fish
from any pond or stream stocked with fish at the expense of the state.

Src. 28. Every person who shall take any trout between the fifteenth day
of July and the first day of April shall be fined twenty dollars for each offence,
and every person who shall take or have in his or her possession any trout less
than six inches in length at any time of the year shall be fined twenty dollars for
each trout found in his or her possession, but nothing herein contained shall be so
construed as to prohibit the taking and sale of trout artificially cultivated in pri-
vate ponds at any season of the year: Provided, that all persons raising brook-
trout artificially in private ponds shall use the initials of their names as a brand,
which brand shall be put on every box of trout shipped or put on the market
by them between the fifteenth of July and the first day of April in each year.
All persons raising and disposing of trout as aforesaid shall cause their brand
required herein to be registered by the secretary of state.

Src. 29. All actions for violations of the provisions of the preceding two
sections shall be commenced within thirty days after the commission of the of-
fence.

Sec. 30. Every person who shall, by any seine or stop-net, or otherwise,
obstruct the channel leading from the sea into Ward’s pond, and up through
said pond on each side of Watermelon, Gooseberry, or Larkin’s islands, shall be
fined not less than five dollars nor more than twenty dollars.

Sec. 31. Every person who shall erect any dam, weir, or other obstruction
across Mill cove in Warwick, or from the mouth of said cove to the pond of fresh
water that runs into said cove, or such streams as run into said pond, or who
shall keep up any dam, or weir, or other obstruction therein made, and every
owner or occupant of lands adjoining said Mill cove or the stream leading from
said pond into said cove who shall permit any such obstruction to be erected
on continued in or upon said cove or stream adjacent to his land, at any time
between the first day of March and the first day of November, shall forfeit
one hundred dollars for each offence.

Sec. 32. Every person who on Saturday or Sunday shall fish in said cove

132 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

except with a hook and line, or who shall catch or hinder any alewives coming
down said Mill cove or said stream, or shall therein at any time set any weir
or device to prevent the passage of the fish, shall forfeit ten dollars for each
offence: Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to
authorize fishing on Sunday.

Src. 33. Every person who shall set or draw any seine or net in said Mill
cove, or off from the mouth thereof to Long Meadow rocks, or from the mouth
thereof to the pond of fresh water which empties into said cove, between the first
day of March and the fifteenth day of June, or who shall take any alewives
from said pond, or streams flowing into said pond, between the first day of
March and the first day of November in any year, shall for each offence forfeit
one hundred dollars and the boats, seines, and other apparatus used in the
commission thereof: Provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall be so
construed as to prohibit any person from fishing for alewives in said cove, or
stream running from said pond into said cove, with a bowed net not larger than
twelve feet around the mouth of said net, on days other than those excepted
in section thirty-two of this chapter.

Src. 34. There shall be, between the first day of May and the first day of
August, a weekly close-time extending from Saturday morning at sunrise to Mon-
day morning at sunrise, during which time no fish of any description shall be
taken by weirs, traps, or similar contrivances, from any of the waters of the
coast-line of the state and Narragansett bay. If there be any weir, trap, or
other stationary contrivances used for the purpose of catching or obstructing
the passage of fish in that part thereof where the fish are usually taken, the net-
ting at the mouth of the same shall be floated to the surface of the water so as
to effectually close the mouth thereof during the weekly close-time, so that dur-
ing said time the fish may have a free, unobstructed passage, and no device
shall be placed in any part of said limits which shall tend to hinder such fish
from running up the waters of such rivers. In case the inclosure where the fish
are taken is furnished with a board floor, an opening three feet wide shall be made
extending from the floor to the top of the weir, trap, or other contrivances:
Provided, however, that nuthing herein shall be so construed as to apply to the
shad and herring fisheries in the tributaries of Narragansett bay.

Src. 35. The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries shall have a general super-
vision of sall matters relating to the subjects contained in sections eight, ten,
twenty-six, twenty-seven, and thirty-four of this chapter, and may make all
needful regulations to carry out the provisions of said sections, and shall from
time to time examine all the weirs, traps, or other contrivances, with a view of
carrying out such regulations as are most beneficial to the people of the state,
and shall prosecute for the violation of such regulations or for the infringement

APPENDIX. 13s

of the provisions of any of said sections. They may co-operate with the fish
commissioners of other states, and shall make an annual report to the general
assembly of their doings, with such facts and suggestions in relation to the
object for which they are appointed as they may deem proper. Said commis-
sioners shall be allowed their actual disbursements made in the execution of
this chapter.

Sxc. 36. Every person who shall violate any of the regulations made by said
commissioners under the authority of the provisions of the preceding section of
this chapter, or who, during the close-time mentioned in section thirty-four,
shall set any weir, trap, or contrivances contrary to such provisions, shall be
fined not exceeding one hundred dollars or be imprisoned not exceeding three
months, or both, in the discretion of the court before which the offender shall
be tried.

Sec. 37. All forfeitures under this chapter shall, where there is no other
provision made to the contrary, enure one-half thereof to the use of the town
where the offence shall be committed and one-half thereof to the use of the per-

son suing for the same.

CHAPTER 172.

Of the Fishery of Pawcatuck River.

Section 1. No weir or pound or other obstructions shall be erected or con-
tinued in the channel of Pawcatuck river, dividing the states of Rhode Island and
Connecticut, so as to interfere with the main channel of said river, upon penalty
of twenty dollars for the first offence, and seven dollars for every twenty hours
or any less space of time any such weir or other obstruction shall be continued
in the main channel of said river after the first offence.

Sec. 2. No weir or pound shall be erected or continued upon any flat or other
part of the bottom of said river, eastward or westward of the aforesaid channel
of said river, between the first day of June and the twentieth of March, annually,
upon penalty of fourteen dollars for the first offence and seven dollars for every
succeeding day such weir or pound shall be continued in said river, from the
first day of June to the twentieth day of March, annually.

Src. 3. No person shall fish with mesh or scoop nets in Paweatuck river, or
any of its branches, after sunset on Friday until sunrise on Monday in each week,
from the twentieth day of March to the first day of June, annually, and no per-
son shall use more than one net at a time upon penalty of five dollars for every
offence.

Sec. 4. All penalties incurred for violation of any of the provisions of this

134 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

chapter shall enure one-half thereof to the use of the complainant and one-half
thereof to the use of the town where the offence is committed.

Sec. 5. The foregoing provisions of this chapter shall be considered as form-
ing a compact with the state of Connecticut, from which the general assembly
will not depart until the legislature of the state of Connecticut shall agree with
the general assembly of this state to a repeal thereof, alterations therein, or
additions thereto.

Src. 6. If any owner of land adjoining Pawcatuck river in this state shall
permit any weir, pound, or other obstruction to be erected or continued upon
any flat or bottom of said river, whether done, erected, or continued by him-
self, servant, lessee, or any other person, by his privity or consent, such owner
shall be liable for any such breach or violation of section two of this chapter
in the same manner as though the same had been committed by such owner in

person.

CHAPTER 174.

Of the Inland Fisheries.

Section 1. The governor shall appoint seven commissioners of inland fish- |
eries, who shall hold their offices for three years and until their successors are
appointed.

Sec. 2. The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries shall introduce, protect, and
cultivate fish in the inland waters of the state, and may make all needful regu-
lations for the protection of such fish, and shall prosecute for the violation of
such regulations and of the laws of the state concerning inland fisheries. (They
may, in their discretion, from time to time make experiments in planting,
cultivating, propagating, and developing any and all kinds of shell fish; and for
the purpose of so doing may from time to time take, hold, and occupy, to the ex-
clusion of all others, in one or more parcels, any portions of the shores of the
public waters of the state, or land within the state covered by tide-water at
either high or low tide not within any harbor line, and which is not at the time
of such taking under lease as a private and several oyster fishery: Provided,
that the land so held and occupied at any one time shall not exceed three acres.
Said commissioners upon taking such land shall forthwith give public notice
thereof by advertisement in some newspaper in the county in which said land
is situated, which advertisement shall contain a description of said land; they
shall also forthwith notify the commissioners of shell fisheries of such taking
and shall transmit to them a description of said land, and shall also take out
“or otherwise mark the bounds of said land. Said commissioners may make all

APPENDIX. 135

needful regulations for the protection of the land so taken, and of all animal
life and other property within the lines thereof, and shall prosecute the violations
thereof.) They may co-operate with the fish commissioners of other states,
and they shall make an annual report to the general assembly of their doings,
with such facts and suggestions in relation to the object for which they were
appointed as they may deem proper. Said commissioners, whenever complaint
is made by them, or either of them, for a violation of any regulation made by
them as aforesaid, or for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of
chapters 171, 172, and 173, shall be not required to enter into recognizance on
such complaint or become liable for costs thereon.

Src. 3. The said commissioners shall cause a copy of any regulation made
under the authority of the preceding section to be filed in the office of the town
clerk of any town in which any waters stocked with fish, or land occupied for
experiments under the authority of the preceding section and to which such
regulations may apply, may be, and shall also cause a copy of such regulations
to be advertised in some newspaper published in the same county.

Sec. 4. Every person who shall violate any of the regulations made by the
commissioners of inland fisheries under the authority of the provisions of the pre-
ceding three sections, or who shall take any fish, fish-spawn, or any apparatus
used in hatching or protecting fish, from any pond, lake, river, or stream stocked
with or set apart by said commissioners, or by private parties, for the protec-
tion and cultivation of fish with the consent of the town council of the town
where such cultivation is carried on, without the consent of such commissioners,
or, if the cultivation of fish be carried on by a private party, without the con-
sent of the person cultivating the same, or who shall trespass within the boun-
daries of any land which may be taken and occupied by said commissioners for
their experiments in relation to shell-fish, authorized by section two of this
chapter, shall be fined not exceeding three hundred dollars or be imprisoned
not exceeding six months, or be both fined and imprisoned in the discretion of
the court before which the offender shall be tried.

Src. 5. Every person who shall catch any fish or shall use any seine for catch-
ing fish within half a mile from the mouth or outlet of any fishery set apart as is
herein provided, and within any waters into which the waters of such fishery
are let out, and every person who shall violate any of the provisions of sections
seven, eight, and ten of this chapter, shall forfeit for the first offence the sum
of fifty dollars, and for every subsequent offence shall forfeit one hundred dol-
lars; and in addition to the penalties herein provided shall forfeit all the appa-
ratus by him used in violation of the provisions of this section.

Sec. 6. Each of the commissioners of inland fisheries may, personally or by
deputy, seize and remove, summarily if need be, all obstructions erected to

136 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

hinder the passage of migrating fish, or which are illegally erected to obstruct
or in any way to impede the growth and culture of fish.

Src. 7. No person shall take or catch fish of any kind from any of the inland
waters of the state, set apart by the commissioners of inland fisheries for the
cultivation of fish, except at such times and in such manner as is hereinafter
provided.

Sec. 8. The prohibition of the catching of fish by hook and line, from fisheries
stocked as hereinbefore provided, shall extend and be continued for and during
the term of three years from and after the time when such fishery was first es-
tablished: Provided, however, that fish may be caught through the ice only, and
with hook and hand-line only, in those ponds set apart for the cultivation of
black bass, during the months of December, January and February, until
the expiration of the aforesaid term of three years.

Sec. 9. After the expiration of said three years no black bass shall be taken
in any waters of this state, except Sneach pond in the town of Cumberland,
and Moswansicut pond in the town of Scituate, between the first day of March
and the first day of July in each year, nor at any time except by hook and line
as aforesaid. Every person taking any black bass during the time aforesaid, or
in any other manner except by hook and line, shall be fined fifteen dollars for
each black bass so taken, and every person who shall take or have in his or her
possession any black bass less than eight inches in length at any time of the year
shall be fined fifteen dollars for each black bass found in his or her possession;
and possession by any person of any black bass less than eight inches in length,
or during the time aforenamed, shall be evidence that such black bass were taken
in violation of this chapter; but nothing herein contained shall be so construed
as to prohibit the taking and sale of black bass artificially cultivated in private
ponds at any season of the year.

Src. 10. After the expiration of said three years no fish shall be taken by any
person from any waters legally set apart by said commissioners for the culti-
vation of shad or salmon, or within one mile of the outlet of the streams so set
apart, except from and after the fifteenth day of April until the fifteenth day
of July, or at any time except by hook and hand-line, or by not less than three-
inch mess nets or seines.

Src. 11. One-half of the fines and forfeitures recovered for violation of the
provisions of this chapter shall accrue to the complainant and one-half thereof
to the use of the state.

Src. 12. The commissioners of inland fisheries may take fish from the fisheries
hereinbefore referred to, for any purpose connected with fish culture or for
scientific observation.

Src. 13. Each of said commissioners may, in the discharge of his duties,

APPENDIX. 137

enter upon and pass over private property without rendering himself liable in
an action of trespass.

Src. 14. The commissioners of inland fisheries shall be allowed their actual
disbursements made in carrying into effect the provisions of this chapter.

CHAPTER 175.

General Provisions for the Protection of Fisheries.

Section 1. Every person who shall throw into or deposit in, or cause to be
thrown into or to be deposited in, any of the public tide-waters of the state or
upon the shores of any such tide-waters any fish-offal or any water impregnated
with fish, unless the same be filtered in such manner as may be determined by
the town council of the town wherein such deposit shall be made, and every

‘person who shall cause any deleterious substance resulting from the smelting
or manufacture of copper or from other manufactures, or from other sources,
which is destructive to fish or which repels them from coming into the said pub-
lie waters, or which shall do anything which tends to drive them therefrom, to
be emptied, deposited, or run into the said public waters, shall forfeit one hun-
dred dollars.

Sec. 2. Every vessel, craft, boat, or floating apparatus employed in the pro-
curing of fish-oil, or in the dressing of bait for the mackerel fisheries, or the
dressing of fish for other purposes, in violation of this chapter, shall be liable
for any forfeiture and costs resulting from prosecution hereunder; and the same
may be attached on the original writ and held, as other personal property at-
tached may be held, to secure any judgment which may be recovered in any ac-
tion brought to enforce any such forfeiture; and any person, upon view of any

- offence in violation of this chapter, may seize and detain any vessel, craft, boat,

or floating apparatus, the same to be detained for a period not exceeding six
hours.

Sec. 3. Every person who shall boil any menhaden fish, or press any fish
for the purpose of extracting oil therefrom, on board of any vessel on any of the
public tide-waters, shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars.

Sec. 4. Any person who shall wilfully place any brush, trees, or limbs of
trees in any of the waters of Charlestown pond shall be fined not more than twenty
dollars nor less than five dollars for each offence; and all fines under this section
shall enure one-half thereof to the use of the complainant and one-half thereof
to the use of the town of Charlestown.

18

138 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

PUBLIC LAWS.

CHAPTER 969.

AN ACT IN SUBSTITUTION OF CHAPTER 857 OF THE PUBLIC LAWS,
PASSED AT THE JANUARY SESSION, A. D. 1901, ENTITLED ‘AN
ACT FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF THE LOBSTER FISH-—
ERIES.”

Section 1. Every person who catches, takes, or has in his or her possession
any lobster less than nine inches in length, measuring from the end of the bone
projecting from the head to the end of the bone of the middle flipper of the tail,
the lobster extended on its back its natural length, and every person who has in
his or her possession any cooked lobster less than eight and three-quarters
inches in length, and every person who has in his or her possession any female
lobster bearing eggs or from which the eggs have been brushed or removed, shall
be fined five dollars for every such lobster; but a person catching or taking
any such live lobster and immediately returning the same alive to the water
from which taken shall not be subject to such fine. The possession of any such
lobster, cooked or uncooked, not of the prescribed length, shall be prima facie
evidence to convict.

Sec. 2. All lobster pots, cars, and other contrivances used for the catching
or keeping of lobsters shall be plainly marked with the name or names of the
owner or owners. And every person who shall not have his lobster pots, cars,
or other contrivances so marked shall be fined twenty dollars and be imprisoned
not more than thirty days for each such offence. And all pots, cars, and other
contrivances used contrary to the provisions of this section shall be seized by
the officer engaged in the enforcement of this law, and said property shall be
forfeited.

Src. 3. There shall be, between the fifteenth day of November and the fif-
teenth day of April next succeeding, a close-time, during which time it shall be
unlawful for any person to set or keep, or cause to be set or kept, within any of
the waters of this state, any pots or nets for the catching of lobsters, or to take
any lobsters during such close-time. Every person violating any of the provisions
of this section shall be fined twenty dollars and be imprisoned not more than
thirty days for each such offence.

‘

APPENDIX. 139

Src. 4. No person shall be allowed to set or keep, or cause to be set or kept,
within any of the waters of the state, any pots or nets for the catching of lobsters
who has not had his home and residence in this state for the period of one year
next preceding the time of his catching such lobsters. Every person violating
any of the provisions of this section shall be fined twenty dollars and be im-
prisoned not more than thirty days for each such offence.

Sec. 5. Every person, except the commissioners of inland fisheries and their
deputies, who shall lift or raise any pot or net set for the catching of lobsters,
without the permission of the owner or owners thereof, shall be fined ten dollars
for each such offence.

Src. 6. Every person who mutilates a lobster by severing its tail from its
body, or has in his or her possession any such tail or tails of lobsters before such
lobsters are cooked, shall be fined five dollars for each such offence; and in all
prosecutions under this act the possession of any such tail or tails of uncooked
lobsters shall be prima facie evidence to convict.

Sec. 7. The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries shall appoint at least two
deputies, whose duties shall be the enforcing of the provisions of this act. Each
of said deputies appointed as aforesaid shall be, by virtue of his office, a special
constable, and as such deputy may, without warrants, arrest any person found
violating any of the provisions of this act and detain such person for prosecution
not exceeding twenty-four hours. Said deputies shall not be required to enter
into recognizance or become liable for costs.

Sec. 8. For the purpose of enforcing the provisions relative to the protection
of lobsters, the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries and their appointed deputies
may search in suspected places, or upon any boat or vessel that they may believe
is used in the catching or transporting of lobsters, and may seize and remove
lobsters taken, held, or offered for sale in violation of the provisions of this act.
_ Sec. 9. Fines incurred under any of the provisions of this act shall enure one-
half thereof to the use of the complainant and one-half thereof to the use of the
state. - s

Sec. 10. The several district courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction with
the common pleas division of the supreme court over all offences under this act,
and to the full extent of the penalties therein specified; parties defendant, how-
ever, having the same right to appeal from the sentences of said district courts
as is now provided by law in other criminal cases.

Sec. 11. Sections eight, nine, and ten of Chapter 171 of the General Laws,
entitled ‘‘Of certain fisheries,’ and also Chapters 316 and 857 of the Public
Laws, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed.

Sec. 12. This act shall take effect upon and after its passage.

140 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

CHAPTER 1006.

AN ACT IN RELATION TO TRESPASS ON LAND.

Section 1. Whoever shall enter upon the land of another for the purpose
of either shooting, trapping, or fishing when the same shall be conspicuously
posted by the owner or occupant with notices that shooting, trapping, or fishing
is prohibited thereon, or whoever shall without right mutilate, destroy, or re-
move any such notice, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars.

Src. 2. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed,
and this act shall take effect July 1st, 1902.

CHAPTER 1182.

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE TAKING OF FISH OF ANY SPECIES
FROM THE WATERS OF GORTON’S LAKE, SO-CALLED, IN THE
TOWN OF WARWICK, R. I., BEFORE APRIL 1, 1906.

Section 1. Every person who shall take fish of any species from the waters
of Gorton’s Lake, so-called, in the town of Warwick, before the first day of
April, A. D. 1906, shall be fined not exceeding one dollar for the first offence,
and not to exceed ten dollars for each subsequent offence.

Sec. 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

CHAPTER 1225.

AN ACT IN ADDITION TO CHAPTER 171 OF THE GENERAL LAWS,
ENTITLED “OF CERTAIN FISHERIES.”

Section 1. Every person who catches or takes from any of the waters of
this state or has in his or her possession any pickerel less than ten inches in length
shall be fined five dollars for each such offence; but any person catching or taking
any pickerel less than ten inches from any of the waters of this state and immedi-
ately returning the same alive to the water from which taken shall not be sub-
ject to such fine. The possession of any such pickerel not of the prescribed
length shall be prima facie evidence to convict.

Sec. 2. This act shall take effect upon and after its passage.

GENERAL SUBJECT INDEX

TO THE

REPORTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES

OF THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

1898-1907.
Report
for the
Year.
A.
Nbundancerot Hishes ini O04ee nn sean eyes 40s see: 1904
: : ( 1907
PNCILURISM CSCLULUS Ce, MHRA Ae ai koe TIS Teie hase Lee hie i 1907
PAN CCLESEGULUQTIU SASH tetas Tenge RPS ted cig ed uct, AU Be 1906
f 1898
| 1900
| ATER IIA SS | AURORE Lt Poo 2 SINC 4 1901
| 1902
| 1903
PXTMECTICATINSOL Geel NG reyar et ett n ee ee ae a ie a ed ee Ne 1907
PART TIZOM ULES ITER VC ONUS Ree Por saa Wee 3) oes «0h sv cla ed nen o 1906
merical Hatching——Plat-fisht vis... 2040602. iebaasseteeoee. 1901
(See Lobster, and Clam.)

Artificial Culture and Growth of the Lobster.—Paper by Prof.

Bbrenpatni, Heh goland s+ <2 0.%)0/as se ayn sas see Reale Bele 1907
B.

ERECSLESICOVOUIMENISUS 12 Pcludeieliain choot at Sanus Se A 1906
( 1898
| 1901
GO PICHIR SIE VC Wena vor er ye Li eC Ch ei 4 re
! 1905

Page.

15
68
83
66
11
19
10
15
15
83
66
16

14

67
15
18
24
23
29
46

142 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Report
for the
Year.
( 1897
| 1898
| 1899

1900

BS ae lcaisaisicderset y. . Ysonnatencys «cae & Simeeyae oars eae ae eRe Oe: 1 fob
1902
| 1904
| 1905

( 1899
| 1900
1 1901
| 1905
TE Oy ath ORR omnes cal MPR a ore one gars MLR MAN Be TES Sone as te ot Sie 1906
Breeding, Periods of Marine Amimals..c 45 -.ce ec. 0+ = s-- ek = 1898
JESD UA ey DLA at cP eA eR aT tech eos, Miu ites cursos crete) aicter ... 1900

Bre eS He Nae Sees LR eee eee PPE Matt «oe ly ae SA ae ae eam

CORGMEUUN POSS hie Ee OOS Sk As ice. Pie hi ROR Whe eats args Sia\cl <qeeeacceas 1906
GB itom MtClee rele ss en staat: chee hey erence bln ei caeab accor a ma wea ey oie 1906

Clam—
TN ovonato kate Oe anen eon, Cnaes yee ey Emig Eytaints gel eia oo wate me aie 1906
Efectiof£ Abundancelon Growth...) eee eens eee enere 1906

Artificialebertilizationes see seen n eee een ce neeeme ase ee

1898
At Gare lume rb Ole © Neyrinees iets tae eee ee en 1898
1903

( 1898
Breedina SeCasONs sé s.00ts yank SS ea Re Ae ee 4

{ 1898
TPUBTO WAN OUOL cay ote oels ahem ts Sia ite as arora ee ae abe { ne
| 1903
( 1900
(1903
( 1898
U 1899
1902
Effect of Digging on Clam Ground...................... 1905
1906

Rate of Burrowing.) elo rs pst et: ea eee ee

Biyssus ei hres dived stea ire diay. Loseddeen tears eae eee ore

Page.

89

89

105
83.

APPENDIX.

Clam—Continued.

Growunand Age of Clams... 32.0... 2. oe ei ce Pema es

aterOis Growth eateries tei see

Blows, Git (ore 4owwuave (Oe yong occ aac ono ne bates enase

Life History of the Common Clam.—Paper by Prof. James
EEN STO ec tee Sa es chai vy So elses Bee EEE

Methods of Culture.—Collection of Young

Experiments in Methods...........

Byers Alexcin cl emi aoces rats soci die chon eth eset

Hoints Bearing on Clam Culture..........:..s4:5-..

PUTATIS DANO cates oo. Sis 2.5) 5.13 aa ee ee
Migration of Young to the Mud,............

Natural Enstory of the Clam: ; i232 ood hoarse ees aes

Report
for the

143

Page.
21

56
93
28
99

aa

Sail

43
38
46
37
23
34
22
39
83
29
38
21
33
o4
28
78
23

78
91
24
23
17
28
33
41
33
90
35
83
27
35
45
63
84
78
21
29
29

144 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Clam—Continued.
Observations on the Soft-Shelled Clam.—Papers by A. D.
Mead, Ph. D.—
irs t Paper ee ae ace cle ee eer ee eae
Second, Papert tiseh corer tote 2 eee aioe
AMIird Paperdiys se iey Vo rcscsstehsoters toes heh Neale hohe lek
Hourthba Pern: sabi sei oueu vere Syke Rete eee ag ae te
HinthpPaperst ees tee ieee ace e ee hs ce tetera

vey Ib To RAL ©) ai aV stot et week rite MM Alesca Von Mal app ye, Milica Uh AI earl re et 9

Rorep- (01 Gi O) EN Gatch see Nat Tai, temas aae ate A erat mn eh Ai PP er
Shore in Narragansett Bay Suitable for Clams................

Spam oie OLAS tate, tse barre senha ve hie gc iteleeunktela eyeege

Statistics of Yield of Clams in the New England States,
CSSA (0) BEAR ele SON gr ae ep mr Re pee ew) EE
Summary of Natural History of the Clam and of Methods
of Culture. ...34 is. J ei nts iba eatehelausici ae enone atechionet op eee

HinemiyeofGhenliobpster acetate eats Sete ee cee ie eee
Commissioners of Fisheries, State and National..............

Commercial Fisheries, Importance of................--+-.+5
WO MEDOGA INE WD ECIES cus a delat veceten ene beaten sales ornament

Report
for the
Year.

Page.

APPENDIX.
Report
for the
Year.
Copepoda ofshode Islandancis sot i: sv occ h Maeemree ee eet 1906
(Cima (JEP V0 Vo ENO AS arn elie crc tea ise ANCE Mean Ig te ort 1/20 CAC 1908
Hine Tue Ola O LARA ema cc, ws, aid, 2+ s1s.e ag he Same eee erect 1902
The Natural History of the Crab.—Paper by E. W. Barnes... 1903
ISG MUOMN Sed setts cm sricne Se oe 5) oe An 1903
STeccUNe SCASOM ss ss oi sis aes «5 + v7 0 ee OO oe 1903
MitcreaiilONiSts se ee aim ances e sx $ 5.1: 33'S ae oteees 1903
ie rl GAT Ora See cnt are © eel dR So oe ceo 1908
Soft-Shelled Crab Industry in Rhode Island.......... 1903
Cinelli tex, SSO, ae sea aie nits Soin Ae a OE ee 1906
(CUES) 1PTIS acco Fase ee Ooh otal tn Oni hee dE Ee yt 1900
PAU TLOSCLON: NEGALISy WOUNE OL 2c eciis scene es css stad ean os 1907
(See also Squeteague.)
1D
DGESTTHOSGZ TRU Reine eee Ob DO OOO Cn COCO Ce on 1906
Diatoms, List of, in Rhode Island.—Paper by Lothrop and Ma-
SOMME Pe cays ciel tonaoee. Sreccepe tere here Miles ah Siok nel 2s 1899
WG RAS LM SOLELY ers = ike yt wd de ae AAS Ae Views ad wes a kA 1904
Dredging by Fish Hawk, in Narragansett Bay................ 1898
BK.
Exhibit at Louisiana Purchase Exposition.........-........... 1903
Exhibit at Jamestown Exposition............................ 1906
Exhibit at the Pan American Exposition..................... 1901
f 1904
bt : : ie 1905
Exhibit for Washington County Agricultural Association....... 4 1906
{1907
( 1897
| 1898
Extermination of Fishes by Over-fishing..................... 4 1899
| 1900
| 1905
EY
Rilem is Weerrmre aan See A Ses rs S28. A, 2a ee a ed eddow cs? 1906
Fish Culture, General Considerations..............:.....2.-- 1907
NINOS ee WOU pees eae ars Sit. Brae rc, sie Ss dl yah) cee ey Me ee, W Ue eka 1899
EN CEMUIOM HOO WASH: OLGS soc eis: 521s 43'S 4 Leen ee nak mec os 1900
Pishesagelvnoderls andes listiotec ss. anise eae eee oa: 1905

19

145

Page.
69
69
46
69
69
69
di
70
72
66
58
85

146 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS .OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Report
for the
Year.

Fishes of Rhode Island, The—Papers by Henry C. Tracy—
I. A List of Fishes of Rhode Island................... 1905
II. The Common Fishes of the Herring Family.......... 1905
III. The Fishes of the Mackerel Family.........:....... 1906
DWeesipare Pushes ‘Taken in V9QGs. cscs ssc «Gln = ten) eee 1906
Wee net lat Wishes is) sia s ccare sosennte at oat siek ts shel hey Wrage vee 1907

VI. A Description of Two Young Specimens of Squeteague
(Cynoscion regalis) with notes on the rate of their
STOWE |cse 24 bje c atingere ye ecu eke late nye tae oie easy sis ke iw usncieae 1907
1900
‘D6 DI Ug ag RRR Stee WER ARUN ENN A Ite aE eres MS aS 1905
1907
ne f { 1907
a t=Bishy we MUStY cere ae homeo tee ae nese iene tore us ie i 1907
3 4 1907
Flounder, The Four-Spotted............. De ae Oy 1 1907
; 1907
BloundersPhe s Winter. fie deen dake che A dateiedevctane eos Gece eee ; 1907
i 1907
Pleunder Phe Summer: (cts enc. cere eis wits ees ers eles Sse shea / 1907
BinicaterMackereliisie. 2 yo aeyeee hehehe elt piety GAG oe hE Re 1906
G.

GOOG MEISE OV G Weal nih coer tepetaseenede, sais ewe d siete eae tele tae ea ee eee 1899
as 1900
IBSEN MOD LAENS aur Nnoe Naa cma ll Grane ne es Chet OR gainer ape nen altos doa here 1907
1907
EVA G allies WAM nON ot SORT ce AAU th et tiateas lean aE Ads yo pn eae est ere 1906
FEVER peer ee en a Ra en nary Ota, ee Neer Sahel cat Whey: 1898
Hemng Wamily, Common Fishes 0f:). 2... he's. ..20.5%' 2b. os 1905
: : ; 1907
Hippoglossoides Parse: mi SPA ie ipelnicd Suk ENON LEL Ue A faery i y/o | 1907
; 1900
PLD POGLOSSUSH NUP POQUOSSUS cet aia. antes fiefs), aeaos(ccseud Menno ae 1907
1907
1905
Horse Mackerel soci cihsn eich oie ate teaeie we eas is ese ean ea eke 8 1905
1906
I ( 1901
1902
| 1903
WlecaliCapture, ob Wbobsterss vi. accuse seta iststoacek Mabe eee 4 1904
1905
| 1905

| 1906

Page.

38
100
33
65
47

85
19
17
47
78
64
63
aa
65
79
63
76
33

45

59
61
70
66
11
100
62
74
59
61
70
ily
21
33
51
83
83
32
110
116
85

APPENDIX.

Report

for the

Year.

Influence of Light Upon Larval and Adolescent Stages of ae 1905
TAT USTCLINANTC OTIS Acts tales al fe ie eno as le ERE e ene ee 1906

Kk.
LEC TTS Bs a gO Sena Bee is REE SG St ler che ek 1906
L.

{ 1899

| 1900

eae | 1901

Laboratory and Equipment of the R. I. Fish Comm........... 4 1902
| 1903

| 1904

; ( 1900

AO GOCEDRQULSAUATO ALULS ae a rie aise a ee tae yee °) 1906
liaw,) Hisheries Wawsiot Rhode Island... ...2..2....5....4.. 1907
* Light, Influence of, Upon Larval and Adolescent Stages of Ho- (1905
TOMES OTN EM CONALS Tae CORE re ior ee) Te 1906

: ; 1907
EUAN CA FCrIUGUITEl aia cls «sts cists relate et silat ties wise gels ai plage la warn ieels (1907
Line Fishing, Influence of Trap Fishing Upon................ 1899
nstrotehishesiqnkvnoderlslandsqneemcmenss sesh. anes aoe 1905
Dayo Keb Hoy I cas EOP cine bor) aie SILC Men Te ea a Met Ee 1905
instrot MolinsaganeRnodemcland sence ies ss ee a iene 1905
istrotsehareshiphesbakensnmy l90G eee ees a se see 1906
t f (1900

WEGDGLES SUT UM AMRCTUSTS oo sy. Ge st oon aalexqeoniens 9 ane Deh 2k BD ae we 11906

Lobster—

AMOTMAlWAPDENGAGES.. ...t0. 2.9 ais oe coe es ee ce See oe 1906

[ 1898

| 1899

JAI STUTNG RNAV: Steet > UA Cea ae CRs EOI! CNG NG ) 4 1901

| 1902

| 1905

» (See Statistics of Commercial Fisheries.)

é : 1902

Breedin oAlabitsetjee eeentels, 5/0) = 0s acts acre arpa oeap aera line . 905
DISTT UGLO Masts rie shah leche Orestes hale eho eto ee eae

IESG MITE Sheps ee he es see cs Cece oly th Scare Sc aOR AE 8 19, SIA 1905

147

Page.
237
181

33

148 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Report
for the
Year. Page.
Lobster—Continued.
* Fifth Stage—
Pxpenimentsim earimevolee ceric ee ee nee eee 1906 88
AEP EROAGS (OL. oie coach urene oneteys dey ea = ono eee EEA Lee ee 1906 89
Number liberated by R.J. Fish Commission since 1900 1907 97
iBishenyein: Helgoland si. 5.ctic wi cte.< fois 200s s see ee 1907 25
1 (6 (oye (At aera aig Os Mer Mera Na) ices at ee Tg ALIA eed A 1905 124
Fourth Stage—
Number liberated by R. I. Fish Commission since 1900 1907 37
1905 125
(EDO Ve Olsen Sener ate Conte Be Ase cn Dees a AWS ono ee Apennines L / 1905 153
ORSExceh ey ocr e ec tart in, Ee apa eet trae ie ee 1905 186
Larval Lobsters—
: : 1900 68
Mepding sa bite wen :ce, 45 a. hie ean a ee tee Pian ; 1905 146
| 1899 44
| 1901 38
1905 146
1 DLCLCY6 ly a gee eee ma Maik AN) Speak ins Aa Ane SAB A 1 1905 208
' 1906 175
| 1907 98
Born Cham @s./ 5. i Mon aae| Sega eae eee apts 1904 46
( 1900 65
| 1901 36
15 4 ont is Rene RRR eo eR PND ee BM or ce Pind ia SN DEE 4 1902 62
| 1905 136
: 1905 2ae
Influence of ight) Upons.. yee -ss ees econ ee eae +NGe 181
1900 63
Wength of ‘Stages.4 325 +)) 02) 44. ae Jt ee 1901 36
1905 148
( 1900 67
| 1901 37
MOU tin S23 Be ae ue frets eh ee + 1904 39
| 1905 125
| 1905 259
( 1900 73
} 1902 82
Parasibess 2.8 Git ead Rieder ete aE be ee vse okey ned tenets : 1903 77
| 1905 207
; 1904 81
RE PENETA LOIN hin Gok cA ac er ee eee ic = ee 258

Stomachsvotawiiiek shi citid hie es ae ee eee We 1906 169

APPENDIX. 149

Report
for the
Year. Page.
Lobster—Continued.
1900 62
SS DIMI UNI meer reetereiee cy reece Lerche Ss aele as RRC en eas 1901 36
1905 127
Light, Influences of—Observations on Some Influences of
Light Upon the Larval and Adolescent Stages of Ho-
marus americanus.—Papers by Philip B. Hadley—
TSG P EAP OT Aes aos clee sisters eo) sis j-e see ete 1905 Pith
DPECONG AWE ckecise acct Me eh visleielaysys 2. ee 1906 181
aes a 1902 73
imtsiof sizeiandeAge ay. races so2. wa ce eee eee 4 1905 125
Methodstom Cultures cscs sate cite as a es setae 1905 135
( 1902 75
| 1905 135
PNEGUICIAN PE AUC OID (acre Shys Set aha he Meio vce aces 4 1906 91
be 11
1907 96
Artificial Culture and Growth of the Lobster.—Paper by
Rrota ahrenbaum. elpolangd: oa. cieacs 600 ara a cieve so 1907 14
Harly- Experiments im Rearing 2 ....40...5 2.20226. 1898 96
iBeperiments im! Germlamys sn en oe Genie ae So 4 sas Boas 1903 6
E=periments on Later Stages: 0.0... 6. 26... ee ne es ws ; nie a
1900 71
1901 39
| 1902 76
; ae aes ' | 1902 82
Experiments in Stirring Apparatus.................. 1 1903 7
1903 75
Kite 33
| 1905 136
Foreign notices of methods of R. I. Fish Commission. . 1 fees y
1907 14
( 1899 44
1 OO 10 NS BO Ce ee aes ee ne RE eee RN Ph he Lk 1900 68
1905 146
The Problem of Feeding in Artificial Lobster Culture.
—Paper by Victor E. Emmel, Ph. D............ 1907 98
Fourth Stage, Number of—
Bem Peer OWStCE eee. N.:. S220: \cct, tae ae eee 1906 91
( 1902 75
| 1903 78
iGineration. of Bry 40.442. .cy 245 Lenehan. .... 4 1905 148
| 1906 93

150 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Report

for the
Year. Page.

Lobster—Continued.
{ 1908 96
| 1901 38
EO TURMLYS 6 hada oan areeto ne Nin rine NUE ane ta { 1901 45
| 1904 34
| 1904 39
Report on Lobster Culture, in 1905.................. 1905 111
Report on Lobster Culture in.1906.................. 1906 88
Report on Lobster Culture in 1907.................. 1907 93
1905 131
iMethodsyohiBrotections ee ater eis sore eee e 1907 7
1907 12
see 1905 131
Pegaliestrietions sic asics ig eae eee Se ee 1906 85
1902 71
MTA HONS 25, eo isk RUB vse eee as NOMI ay oi inte a ee eee i 1903 79
1905 124
(See Tagging of Lobsters.)

: 1901 47
De PMU: tne | oP ts sand cic eescpcretokcet toys GRRE SPN tae ee ee 1 39
( 1904 39
| 1905 125
Mo mltaimpe sage Besa eee a her ace Mee CAEN ae 4 1905 156
| 1905 181

| 1905 258
Natural History of the Lobster—
Habits and Growth of Young Lobsters.

Idibesny Jetorye lonulD ie, Jats ID IMMER le ain 6 oo aa eo oS 1900 61
Habits and Growth of Young Lobsters.
Secondweaper by A. Di Meddice. aerate 1901 35
Habits and Growth of the Lobster.
Third Paper by Mead and Williams............. 1902 57
Natural History of the Lobster.
Paperiby Wi. Parnes. sec ue eee cite te 1905 120
Number of 4th-and 5th-Stage Fry Liberated Since 1900.... 1907 96
(1901 47
|
Observations on’ DateStagess. f2ccc tte > hemes een ’ me se
| 1905 164
( 1904 40

Color Changes of late Stages. 2/26 ¢.i-0h2 snes ss + fs

1902 73
RatCHOMG TO Wits sei Leo cero Ie CERT oA Teron hates 1905 178

APPENDIX.
Report
for the
Lobster—Continued. Year.
Regarding the Rate of Growth of the American Lobster—

Paper by Philip By Hadley: . ./sus0 4 sis steubaled « as 1905
1904
VED CIC ELL Os, eeeyanr naira ries sh os Garson =| o's: seas acc rege ene nee 1904
1905

Regeneration of Lost Parts in the Lobster—Paper by Victor
1Diy 1OLenTTOE) RET eee ine er Ere Ree PEERS aE Bick oie 3 1904

Regenerated and Abnormal Appendages in the Lobster—
Paper py, Victor Bi, Bmmels oy... 2). 2.5 25 6k «Coe 1906

The Relation of Regeneration to the Moulting Process of the
Lobster—Paper by Victor E. Emmel................ 1905
Sexcer eroporuon Ole j.0)4 sce) fee S clare dt bane wae es en eye 1902
SSM eA LOTT Veeys oh sean yelet SM te Reals we, = cys, 0S) latte. 3 ac aoe 1905
SIVAS EVO AIER FONE RT eee eae ke ecm NCCE Cae Ca a 1902

(See Limits of Size and Age.)

SAMUI OF EV allo UL evans ere herr ey ecactey vrei euctepey set ihaicslcl shatters 1905

Stomach—The Stomach of the Lobster and the Food of Lar-
val Lobsters.—Paper by Leonard W. Williams, Ph.D.. 1906
f 1897
1898
1899
1900
| 1901
Statisucsot Commercial Hisheniess sem eads se. 25 neki 4 1902
|

1903
1904
1905
1906
1907

(1902

| 1903

1904

keegan 74 Bro 0) i%=) us Meee eee .. . 41905

22

114
150

Naz, REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES,

Report
for the
Year.
( 1899
| 1900
Ree. Pes ss oi teceon Berne eerie eternity soa 4 1901
| 1905
| 1906
1904
Menhaden Disease: ....- es c-- reves ee sere ee eee mink h ecimmalel 1905
1906
Mollusca, List of, in Rhode Island...........--+---+-+++++++> 1905
Monacanthus hispidus.... 0.000500 event tee tenes 1906
Mya arenaria.
(See Clam.)
N.
: ‘ 1902
IN CHCTILGE AAAS Oe ore tee eae ee Acer porn Lek nage oak ae ibe
O.
@stracoda of Rhode Island... 00... ee 2 oe eee 2 1906
1898
ROystets. sane tee aie eer de are ee eee ree ae ; 1901
: 1897
Na Hood for Startisii..-. (ess. tees ee ne ee eee
2 ; 1901
At Point Judith Pond ....4 2s acca s ate on io 4 1902
Pe
; 1907
Paralichthys dentatus. fo. 0 2. -i0h- 2 ee Ros ees a . 907
F 1907
ParalichthystODlongus.... --\ Gaevle eee re a ; 1907
arch: Wihiten.ic Ss OR Aa ROk seekers eee ae reas 1900
oe { 1898
BATiGINeINN Sb sola coke dace ala egies eine ella tee aaa } 1900
(See Red Water Plague.)
Phyllopoda of Rhode Island.......--.+-----++0+rrsrertttte 1906
( 1898
| 1901
Physical Examination of Narragansett Bay.....----------- + 4 1902
| 1903
r | 1905

(See Dredging.)

1901
At Point Judith PONGs!. <0 lessee ces oa een Se 1902

45
39

69
16
18
21
55
18
24

63
76
63
77
10
32
56

69

15
18
24
23
29

18
24
26

APPENDIX.
Report
for the
Year.
1905
HEC) One ewe peeny chin eevee ey A sacte sess AucWanan s\onceths ial ss cusverahsn eM eke ed MON Os ty sna ; 1905
Providence River, Physical and Biological Conditions of....... 1898
; 1907
Pseudoplenronectes americanus.................- PSs ee J enh 1907
Pieroplatea maclura... 2... . ees see: Se os alle ha 1900
: 1900
esta nectm SEN OO U Lra ayes cae att ie acters ay hp kcceelt, b< 3! Lee Sree | 1906
JP \prstaroistaelebatia\el ope aeeiana 6 Seige ee Pb pee ce 1906
- Q.
SRT EVR CY Pee PNAOe phe pa WM eer) Mechs ceeNen es aera aa lng Lie? ov dyieyre's, ot abe on ayer eaters 1900
Habits and Life History of the Quahog.—Paper by A. Kk.
EGTEVITS OF Ser goes one gabe vel et ya sy clsialisnes -A-Mafong (aeshal oki, staf wicve vabahe 1902
R.
Rarevhishes# Maken im T9OGW i. 6 fo je es jeuen ee aici css ib alte 1906
(1898
| 1900
ECU cUEMbE aCUIG ae nn Me nth ne tls Wes alas. ete Mla oh Ae at 4 1901
| 1902
ereneration. in the Lobstersc- sot bs Sek feces cle nse ss 1904
Relation to the Moulting Process........-.........:..:-- 1905
ihecencrated Appendages’ si 4.45. </, dee sla Panis sa webb 1906
Ve tetas VU eipotrsarts aie new aes score, Aye OM eve beea caval a hig Siedler 2. det nctooe 1898
ee F . 1907
Restriction of the Lobster Fisheries........................-. at
1907
1907
PERG ULE RMD octet ver oper p= Were ba sapr ye RP ear ea ond Gites aegis cs oie /5 00, erly of See Ane ties
s.
1898
SAMMNGV ROM VW CET. sioicrs oie succddielats, aiale 6 ie,» arid share Rel ARR eee 1898
1905
(1897
| 1898
aulimonneliain GOCKEU seiayat! <2 5, ccs ola «1d snk ee ee , 1899
| 1900
1907
GOVE EAD EIN @ cs wlln A REA eC SUR
Sand-Da 1907

68

49

154 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Report
for the
Year.

AU ea Cece eo 2. ay A Res eee ang k! Oo ee eMC att te vile PIE 1906

PCa DULG MEAS My ehh! se ccclc tretoe ie rherent pare en eel eas eee UE es 1900
Scallop —Habits and Life History of the Scallop.—Paper by

Ponieauhann TRMISSER. ..0 Lek Apts ciceie cae Bhan aia eee ee gh see 1900

( 1897

| 1898

| 1899

1900

(CUT Ces | 2 ep ae ei ce ed ae an Res SPCR emi ME ah tu AUP ty J + 1904

| 1905

1905

| 1906

y : 1902
SLEE A OH aRE NEN Gey nee te ee ML ee eee Ube eR Uae th, eed om Puta ye ets

ISELENORDO MLCT aris erecta chy eae ne, Se ern 1906
( 1900

1901

1902

3 1903
aU DEW bk Sag co KE Ria ee aaa A Sr NOLO Foe a Or TUR RS eee eR EH Viet pore pr
1904

| 1905
| 1906
| 1907

"SEE [AaB 60105 9h Rte NOR ea Penn name aceite 8 bE OY Date 23.6 “1900
Ole Ne ZA TM ERI CAI) ws corenee Crete) os cine ecm coherent aan sve

Spamish s Mackerel: fc: fadesneded.cesay Wer hoes onc ere pam er eReet 1906

Soemnorwoyes (Cuxeviool OMS Ss seas socsadoeanesasdccoaesudsne See

SOME TERETE Mee eae nih c tic ccs natr arnt a vceac a she rs fet OT

SVAO UIT OAL saris ae i oy ete ehtest nats te Ane EA Veer aren. 1907
Starfish—

1897
Distribution sadeeniosks So ee ee a Gee ee 1898

| holed 0c WU clctaeed APRA ND. eee IESE Cay get renal) © NR a ia

Page.

APPENDIX. 155

Report

for the
Year. Page.
1897 19
NOOds.b alae nln ea. eas eae oneal Be ee 1898 42
{ 1898 55
An ; 1897 19
Heedingablabitss. ceca: oh a.cse- PRR ER a Phe eer ; 1898 43
1897 25
arvaleleeriOdereyey wets Mie Met pee sty Sess ccd oe ee 1898 47
1898 53
- 1897 28
Methodstotm Destruction eaeeeeneeae oc: (oat. | eee , 1898 74
; ( 1897 16
Modevoteliien- me encore ee te ae ced ee i 1898 40
1897 25
aterom Grow tMecciss oH one ee eels hola nace oS eS @ oo ee | 1898 58
: 1897 26
| RVSEREs RCE TCC rate Be ae ri Oe a ee , 1898 69
Ps 1897 25
SSI ZELMA Care een Aman EN MEO WP UAB Cotes Ale cian he 1 1898 66
S sgl aa 1897 24
DAWN ce SCASON Wise na ee tee ae ous el ue 1898 44
Gres 1897 14
| OXEYSUIGIS oe Pelasiin Fr efectos CORA APe T= tS oe a Eo 1898 38
OUI Sa tae dayne rae ees 8k OE le bn gg ie sth 1898 47
( 1897 24
| 1898 47
etnias Ola ee eee ee ere anne he 2 hey, See 1 1898 50
| 1898 53
( 1897 @
1898 7
| 1899 10
| 1900 10
| 1901 11
Statistics of the Commercial Fisheries....................... 4 1902 16
| 1903 14
1904 2
1905 NG:
1906 20
| 1907 33
SVR VCAESIIMCCULS ST petelg scot s «Jc x ole oe eR Oe. 1906 21
SHITE] RON UR ae eta nr i oh ONS og I 1906 65
1905 17
SOLES. oi: 3 8 OL re Pee AN) Dee ; 1906 o1

156 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Report
for the
Year.

1904
SWOTOIEEIS INANE RU cc iced) =p APALe ev eaniewE be ok a un STU Reeth peg SnAg 1905
1906

1900
1906

( 1897
| 1898
| 1900
1901
; 1904
| 1905

Temperature of Water, (see Physical Examination.)
TPS aeeW oe SF ee Gee Sptetedeame tiie Ain.n POPPIN IN I MBNUR Facey he EAB cat 2 Se Nae 2 Ed 1906

(1898
J 1899
* } 1900
1905

Times of Arrival.and Departure of Food Fishes............... 1899
ET RERUUTUS LEPLUPUS.. 92 si.3s cellos & Fre (ost ide, aes SEEN isc bee gene 1900

( 1898
| 1903
\ 1904
| 1905

1899
1900

( 1898
1899
1900
| 1901
|

ras TOcatlOm sO sc. lMles wa sy. i ecient oe & hola cial oge euneane oes: Pe
1904
1905
1906
(1907

"TUT Gese Ba tS) ee aE ee Rp Ee Mote EL LY Pine tree At

Traps, Influence of, on Line Fishing....................... ‘ ;

raps Number of, trom URIS UO 75s ine ese ale a a lalenaneiy da ye ielelee
ler Ge ST MEG Lis eee strech xcs sok viens ks Si veh coe oleae MSO NBL oeaeneas a aes ET 1906

Miers ye Deen oe Ne oe toot ne a rt Midas ogy Sra alk O auch Rtetene satlage ips |

Page.

Vomer setipinnis

APPENDIX.

Report

for the
Year.

f 1897
1899
1900

1906
1907
| 1907

Page.

67

TITLES OF SPECIAL PAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE ANNUAL
REPORTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISH-
ERIES OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

1. Merap, A. D. The Starfish. (First paper.) Twenty-eighth Annual Report. 1898.
2. Mrap, A.D. The Starfish. (Second paper.) Twenty-ninth Annual Report. 1899.

3. Tower, R. W. Improvements in the Methods of Preparation of Fish for Shipment.
Twenty-ninth Annual Report. 1899.

4. Bumpus, H. C. The Extension of the Commercial Fisheries of the State. Twenty-ninth
Annual Report. 1899.

5. Ketioa, J. L. The Life History of the Common Clam. Twenty-ninth Annual Report.
1899.

6. Mason, N. R. A list of the Diatoms Found in the Water over the Clam, Mussel, and
Oyster Beds in Narragansett Bay. Thirtieth Annual Report. 1900.

7. Meap, A. D. Observations on the Soft-shell Clam. Thirtieth Annual Report. 1900.

8. Meap, A. D. Observations on the Soft-shell Clam. (Second paper.) Thirty-first An-
nual Report. 1901.

9. Rtsser,J.R.H. Habitsand Life History of the Scallop. jThirty-first Annual Report. 1901.

10. Merap, A. D. Habits and Growth of Young Lobsters and Experiments in Lobster Cul-
ture. Thirty-first Annual Report. 1901.

11. Merap, A. D. Observations on the Soft-shell Clam. (Third paper.) Thirty-second An-
nual Report. 1902.

12. Meap, A.D. Habits and Growth of Young Lobsters and Experiments in Lobster Culture.
(Second paper.) Thirty-second Annual Report. 1902.

13. Mean, A. D. and Winuiams, L. W. Habits and Growth of the Lobster and Experiments
in Lobster Culture. (Third paper.) Thirty-third Annual Report. 1903.

14. Meap, A.D. and Barnes, E. W. Observations on the Soft-shelled Clam. (Fourth paper.)
Thirty-third Annual Report. 1903.

15. Mrap, A. D. and Barnes, E. W. Observations on the Soft-shell Clam. (Fifth paper.)
Thirty-fourth Annual Report. 1904.

16. Barnes, E. W. Preliminary Inquiry into the Natural History of the Paddler Crab (Calli-
nectes hastatus) with Remarks on the Soft-shell Crab Industry of Rhode Island.
Thirty-fourth Annual Report. 1904.

17. Meapy A. D. Experiments in Lobster Culture. (Fourth paper.) Thirty-fourth Annual
Report. 1904.

18. Mrap, A. D. Experiments in Lobster Culture. (Fifth paper.) Thirty-fifth Annual
Report. 1905.

SF

25.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

33.

34.

35.
36.
37.

38.

APPENDIX. 159

Hanbury, P. B. Changes in Form and Color in Successive Stages of the American Lobster.
Thirty-fifth Annual Report. 1905.

Emmet, V. E. The Regeneration of Lost Parts in the Lobster. Thirty-fifth Annual
Report. 1905.

Tracy, H.C. A List of the Fishes of Rhode Island. Plates I-XII. Thirty-sixth Annual
Report. 1906.

Tracy, H. C. The Common Fishes of the Herring Family. Plates VII-XII. Thirty-
sixth Annual Report. 1906.

Barnes, E. W. Methods of Protecting and Propagating the Lobster, with a Brief Out-
line of its Natural History. Plates XIII-XXVI and XXVIII, XXXII, XXXII,
XXXVI. Thirty-sixth Annual Report. 1906.

Hapuey, P. B. Regarding the Rate of Growth of the American Lobster. Plates XX VI-
XXXVII, and XL. Thirty-sixth Annual Report. 1906.

Hap.ey, P. B. Observations on Some Influences of Light upon the Larval and Early
Adolescent Stages of Homarus Americanus. Plates XXXVIII-XL. Thirty-sixth
Annual Report. 1906.

Emmet, V. E. The Relation of Regeneration to the Molting Process in the Lobster.
Plates XL—XLI. Thirty-sixth Annual Report. 1906.

Tracy, H. C. The Fishes of Rhode Island, III: The Fishes of the Mackerel Family.
Thirty-seventh Annual Report.

Tracy, H. C. A List of Rare Fishes taken in Rhode Island in the year 1906. Thirty-

seventh Annual Report.

Witurams, Dr. Leonarp W. List of the Rhode Island Copepoda, Phyllopodes and Os-
tracoda, with new species of Copepoda. Thirty-seventh Annual Report.

Emmet V.E. Regenerated and Abnormal Appendages in the Lobster. Thirty-seventh
Annual Report.

Williams, L. W. The Stomach of the Lobster and the Food of Larval Lobsters. Thirty-
seventh Annual Report.

Haptey, P. B. Regarding the Behavior of the Larval and Early Adolescent Stages of the
American Lobster. Thirty-seventh Annual Report.

Barnes, E. W. Lobster Culture at Wickford, Rhode Island, in 1906. Thirty-seventh
Annual Report.

Barnes, E. W. Lobster Culture at Wickford, Rhode Island in 1907.

Tracy, H.C. The Fishes of Rhode Island V. The Flatfishes.

Tracy, H. C. The Fishes of Rhode Island VI. <A Description of two young Specimens
of Squeteague (Cynoscion regalis) with Notes on the Rate of their Growth.

Emmet, Victor E. The Problem of Feeding in Artificial Lobster Culture.

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