1961-1962 - American Museum of Natural History

ior of the young of many species of Gulf Coast fishes in relation
to the shade and composition of natural backgrounds.
Dr. Breder and Dr. Rosen devoted considerable time to the
completion of their monograph on the reproductive characteristics
of fishes. Dr. Rosen, in collaboration with Dr. Reeve M.
Bailey of the Museum of Zoology of the University of Michigan,
completed work on a monograph of the Poeciliidae, a widespread
family of New World, live-bearing fishes.
Difficulties encountered previously in the development of a
tracking device for the tuna-tracking project were largely resolved
this year. This work, which is being done by Mr. George
A. Bass and Mr. Mark R. Rascovich, progressed to a point at
which small transmitters suitable in size for use on tuna were
constructed and successfully tested.
Dr. Perihan Sadoglu, formerly of the University of Istanbul,
now of Brown University, visited the department in connection
with her studies on the genetics of the Mexican cave characins,
a project she had started in the department laboratories in 1954
under the auspices of Dr. Breder. Since that time she has continued
to utilize the descendants of cave fishes from the live
collections of the department in pursuing her studies at Istanbul,
Naples, and more recently at Brown University.
Miss Francesca R. LaMonte, who retired to the status of
Curator Emeritus, on February 14, 1962, has continued her
studies on the speared fishes.
The department accessioned approximately 4000 new fishes
from the Arctic, Antarctic, mid-Atlantic Ocean, Mexico, South
America, and Roumania. These included valuable collections
made by the "Vema," the research vessel of the Lamont Geological
Observatory. Specimens in the study collection continued
to be used by investigators from other institutions both in
this country and abroad.
In exhibition activities, department members contributed
plans for the redesigning of the Hall of Ocean Life.
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