INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1873. Hx 



the oyster beds of Kew Brunswick and Prince Edward's Isl- 

 and. 



The most notable exploration, how^ever, on the American 

 coast, was that prosecuted by the United States Fish Com- 

 mission, under the direction of Professor Baird and Professor 

 Verrill. Peak's Island, in Portland harbor, was selected as 

 the centre of operations for the summer, and afforded the 

 opportunity for the gathering of a large number of special- 

 ists, either connected directly wdth the service, or joining it 

 for the sake of the facilities given for the study of marine 

 life. 



The United States steam-tug Blue Light^ properly equip- 

 ped and fitted for the service, and under the command of 

 Captain L. A. Beardslee, U. S. N., w^as placed at the disposal 

 of the Commission by the Secretary of the Navy, and was 

 constantly employed in its labors from the beginning of July 

 until toward the middle of September. All the apparatus for 

 deep-sea research used by the foreign expeditions w^as em- 

 ployed in this exploration, and the results promise to be of 

 the utmost importance, both in their scientific and econom- 

 ical relationships. 



The primary object of the Commission was, of course, the 

 determination of questions connected with the fisheries of the 

 coast, and the boundaries, limitations, and conditions influ- 

 encing them ; but collaterally, also, an exhaustive investiga- 

 tion of the currents, ocean temperatures, chemical composi- 

 tion of the water, and every thing bearing upon or connected 

 with the fauna or flora of the sea. 



In addition to the Blue Bight, the service for a month, of 

 the United States steamer Bache was granted to the Commis- 

 sion by the Superintendent ol the Coast Survey, the vessel be- 

 ing under command of Captain Howell. Dr. Packard took 

 charge of the biological investigation on board this vessel, in 

 behalf of the Commission, assisted by Mr. Cook. As the 

 cruises of the Bache w^ere considerably outside of the limits 

 possible for the Blue Bight, a large part of the region be- 

 tween Cape Cod and the Georges, ofi" the coasts of Massa- 

 chusetts, ISTew Hampshire, and Maine, was explored. The re- 

 sults secured by this expedition were too extensive to be 

 stated w^ithin the limits of our Summary, and the detailed 

 account must be looked for in the reports of the Commission 



