N. MISCELLANEOUS. 605 



less than thirty-three vessels having been destroyed, valued, 

 with their cargoes, at a million and a half of dollars. For- 

 tunately no lives were lost, although much suffering was ex- 

 perienced in consequence of the crowded quarters in which 

 the crews of the vessels were obliged to huddle themselves. 

 According to the reports brought in, the entire fleet had been 

 working northward, with varying success, and in considerable 

 numbers, in Behring Sea, and followed the whales into the 

 Arctic Ocean, where fair success was met with, until about 

 the 1st of September, when the ice came driving down, and 

 in the course of a week or two a number of vessels were 

 sunk, and others crushed by the ice or driven ashore. The 

 catch destroyed amounted to 13,065 barrels of whale-oil, and 

 965 barrels of sperm, and 100,000 pounds of bone. Most of 

 the vessels were owned in New Bedford, where the loss will 

 be keenly felt. Daily paper. 



COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



The states of Maryland and Virginia are at present at log- 

 gerheads as to wdiich of them shall control the fishing of the 

 Potomac River, which separates them, each having enacted 

 laws on this subject, and being now engaged in an endeavor 

 to enforce them. Several petitions have lately been presented 

 to Congress requesting its interference by assuming the ju- 

 risdiction, which the petitioners consider properly the right 

 of the United States to exercise, and to 'establish such regu- 

 lations as may result in a final settlement of the whole ques- 

 tion. In connection with this subject, we may remark that 

 a bill is now pending in the Legislature of Virginia providing 

 for the appointment of two persons as Commissioners of Fish 

 and Fisheries, to investigate the methods adopted in other 

 states and abroad for the artificial naturalization offish, and 

 of replenishing the streams of the state with the best varieties 

 adapted to the purpose. Maryland, we believe, has already 

 made a similar provision; so that now all the New England 

 and Middle States (with, perhaps, the exception of Delaware), 

 together with Maryland and Virginia, have appointed com- 

 missioners to take charge of this important branch of domes- 

 tic economy. We have already referred to the appointment 

 by the United States of a Commissioner of Fish and Fish- 

 eries, so that by the co-operation of these gentlemen we trust 



