lx GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



United States Fish Commissioner to take steps for stocking 

 such of the fresh waters of the United States as were national 

 in their character, and common to. several states ; and, avail- 

 ing himself of the advice and counsel of practical fish-cultur- 

 ists, and of the fish commissioners of several of the states, his 

 first operations were commenced in regard to the introduction 

 of shad and salmon. The services of Mr. Seth Green were 

 obtained for transferring young shad to the Alleghany River, 

 and the Mississippi at St. Paul, while Mr. William Clift, also 

 an eminent fish-culturist, took charge of their transportation 

 to the waters of White River at Indianapolis, and to those 

 of the Platte at Denver. It is expected that this branch of 

 the work will be continued during the year 1873. 



As regards salmon, the Commissioner dispatched an assist- 

 ant to California for the purpose of obtaining eggs of the 

 Sacramento sj)ecies, and co-operated with the Fish Commis- 

 sioners of the New England States in the support of the es- 

 tablishment of Mr. Atkins at Bucksport, Maine. He also en- 

 o-ao;ed a larofe number of es^s from the salmon-breeding es- 

 tablishment at Freiburg on the Rhine, to which were added 

 a large supply presented by the German government from 

 the state establishment at Htinino'en. A considerable num.- 

 ber of Sacramento eggs was received, and the young hatch- 

 ed out at the establishment of Dr. J. H. Slack, of Bloomsbury, 

 N. J., and placed in the Susquehanna River. The eggs from 

 Bucksport were placed in charge of the State Commissioners, 

 for introduction, when hatched, into the waters of their re- 

 spective states. Such of the German eggs as survived the 

 unexpectedly severe experience of their journey have been 

 introduced into the Delaware. 



The Commissioner has also continued during the year the 

 inquiries ordered by law into the condition of the food-fishes, 

 beo-un in 1871, carrying them on upon the coasts of Maine 

 and New Brunswick, special reference being had to the her- 

 ring, cod, and mackerel. 



His Report upon explorations made in 1871, as presented 

 to Congress, is in press, and contains much valuable informa- 

 tion. 



The Commissioners of fisheries of the several states have 

 also been industriously engaged in carrying out their work, 

 nearly all the New England and Middle States, excepting 



