BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 385 



Vol. IT, I¥o. ^5. Washington, D. €. Sept. 16, 188i. 



190.— ARRAIVGEinKNT WITH TIIK lilFF-SATINO SERVICE AND THE: 

 LimiT-HOUIstE BOARI> FOR tOI.I.El'TINC; WHALES, PORPOISES,, 

 SHARKS, AIVO STRANOE FORITIS OF ITIABINE L.IFE. 



By CHAS. T¥, SMILEY. 



Eeports of the stranding of strange animals upon the sea-shore are^ 

 often found in newspapers, but for practical purposes are of little value^ 

 because time has usually elapsed sufficient to allow the specimens tO' 

 decay or to be removed. In order to enable the Fish Commission tO' 

 secure some of these forms of life the Commissioner addressed the fol- 

 lowing letter to the superintendent of the life-saving service : 



" I beg leave to call your attention to a service, in the interest of 

 science and of the fishing industry, that can readily be rendered by 

 those connected with the life-saving stations. 



"As United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, I am desir- 

 ous of obtaining a complete collection (to be deposited in the National 

 Museum) of illustrations of the various marine animals, the occurrence or 

 capture of which is only occasional. I refer more particularly to whales,, 

 porpoises, blackfish, grampuses, and the various other forms of the- 

 whale family. These are frequently thrown ashore by the storms, or 

 stranded in shoals, or taken in weirs, but beyond exciting a passing in- 

 terest on the part of the bystanders, very little further is heard of 

 them. In addition to these, I may mention the great basking or bone^ 

 shark, and any unknown or unidentified marine monsters, such as might 

 possibly suggest the idea of the far-famed 'sea-serpent.' 



" I would ask, therefore, that instructions be given to the persons con)- 

 nected with the Life-Saving Service, during the period of official duty 

 or at other times, to advise me promptly, by telegraph, of the appear- 

 ance, in their vicinity, of any such animals, and to endeavor to keep 

 them in proper condition and prevent their being cut or otherwise mu- 

 tilated until I can send some word. I would cheerfully pay the full 

 value of the oil or blubber of these animals, so that there might be no 

 inducement to cut them up. A telegram sent to the nearest station, 

 addressed 'Professor Baird, Washington, D. 0.,' will come to me with- 

 out prepayment being required, if marked 'Government business, col- 

 lect.' If out of the reach of the telegraph, the announcement maj' be 

 sent by mail. On receipt of this communication, which should give 

 some idea of the nature and condition of the specimen, 1 will at once 

 respond — in some cases sending an expert to prepare the specimen for 

 the Museum. 



Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 25 



