8 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



raising fish could be built at slight cost. The possibilities of small 

 fish ponds as sources of food — although well known and greatly 

 developed in other countries — has until recently received little 

 attention in this country. Our great natural resources have no 

 doubt been responsible for this, but the increase in population 

 with its consequent great drain upon these resources has brought a 

 greater demand for more careful development of the latent possibili- 

 ties. In our modern civilization our aquatic resources have been the 

 last to be developed and yet it can be readily proven that there is 

 scarcely any industry from which greater returns can be obtained at 

 as slight a cost. It is not the intention of this Commission to advocate 

 the raising of fish for commercial purposes in such a State as ours with 

 its great marine fisheries — although this is within the bounds of 

 possibility — but the raising of fish in private ponds for home con- 

 sumption is perfectly feasible and the convenient food supply thus 

 obtained will easily justify the expense of construction and mainte- 

 nance. Furthermore, these ponds, constructed primarily for raising 

 fish, would be valuable in a number of other ways. Their mere 

 development from unsightly and valuless waste lands would be an 

 asset in itself. Add to this a possible supply of ice, convenient place 

 for watering stock, improvement of surrounding lowlands by drainage, 

 and similar uses which will come to the mind of anyone, and they 

 will be sufficient to warrant taking up the matter seriously. 



The work of the Commission in 1915 followed the usual lines as 

 outlined below, more detailed statements will be found in the body 

 of the report. 



The stocking of fresh-water ponds and streams. 



The enforcement of the laws relating to fresh-water fishes. 



The purchase of egg-bearing lobsters. 



The employment of deputies to enforce the lobster laws. 



The granting of licenses to catch lobsters. 



The rearing of lobsters to the bottom-seeking stage. 



The gathering of data and statistics with respect to the food-fishes. 



The cooperation with fisheries authorities of neighboring states and 

 abroad. 



