344 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



rations for governing these fisheries.* But alas the memorial of the 

 Board did not meet with a favorable reception, by the majority of the 

 lower 1 louse of our Parliament. In spite of its being strongly advocated 

 by Minister Klerch, many of the members could not see the direct use 

 of such a measure (see the speeches by several members of the lower 

 House), and in December, 1881, the motion, when put to the vote, was 

 lost, 26 voting in favor, and 1 1 against it. Perhaps the time is near — 

 and would that the London Fishery Exposition might hasten it — when 

 the eyes of our representatives will be opened to the great importance 

 to the welfare of our country of " aggressive research." Some energetic 

 men, to take the matter in hand, and a liberal appropriation for carry- 

 ing on the work would be the warm sunshine and the powerful fertilizer 

 which would in a short time turn this barren field into a rieh and pro- 

 ductive one, thus proving a benefit to our entire country. 



But even more than these investigations, the importance of the third 

 part of the programme of the United States Fish Commission will be 

 evident to any one who has given some attention to the subject; I mean 

 the carrying on of fish culture on a large scale, and by the Government. 

 And of its importance I would like to convince all my readers. For this 

 purpose I must give a more detailed description of the manner in which, 

 in America, this "Government care" is exercised. 



1 will begin by mentioning some of the aids which have been furnished 

 by the Government for attaining the object in view. In the first place 

 a steamship of GOO tons has been furnished (besides the steamship of the 

 Commission referred to above), costing $00,000, the officers and crew 

 of which are furnished by the Navy Department, and whose duty it is 

 to occupy themselves with the propagation of the shad in summer, of 

 the codfish in winter, and of the mackerel in spring. 



There is no better place for doing this work than such a floating 

 workshop, more especially when we consider the great extent of the 

 American coast line. Besides these steamships it became necessary to 

 have railroad cars of a special construction. They were furnished at 

 once, and at the present time live fish of different ages are safely con- 

 veyed throughout the whole vast territory of the United States. It is 

 hardly necessary to state that these cars are of a special construction ; 

 nor will I here give a detailed description of the basins and various 

 other contrivances for keeping the water fresh. All this can be studied 

 at the London Exposition from excellent models. 



After briefly mentioning these mat- rial aids, we must not forget to 

 refer to the intellectual aid placed at the disposal of the Commission. 

 Under the supervision of the Commissioner there is a full staff of experi- 

 enced and skillful naturalists, which works into a whole all the various 

 observations, and orders the new investigations called for by such ob- 

 servations. Their ranks are filled by young men who, after having 

 completed their education at some college, desire to devote themselves 



* Sec the Otlicial Report on the Netherland Sea-lisheries, published in 1880. 



