50 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



general facts for 1882 are not materially different, except to some extent 

 in regard to the scale of operations. 



By act of Congress the work of the Commission is divided into two 

 subjects: (1) the investigation into the condition of the fishery and the 

 search for improvements in the methods and products of the fisheries; 

 and (2) the multiplication and dissemination of the more important 

 species ; the first representing what is known as the inquiry branch oi 

 the Commission, and the second that oi propagation. 



As the subject of the investigation of the fisheries was that first in- 

 trusted to the Commission by Congress in 1871 — that of the multiplica- 

 tion offish not being authorized until the succeeding year — it has gen- 

 erally been customary to take up the two divisions in that order. The 

 method of this inquiry has been to visit successively the principal 

 points along the coast of the United States where research can be pros- 

 ecuted, establishing stations for a season to study very carefully the 

 nature and distribution of the animal life, the character of the water as 

 to temperature, salinity, currents, &c., and the general facts in regard to 

 methods of prosecuting the fisheries. In this manner, in the course of 

 successive years, the minute details or conditions of the marine life of 

 the Atlantic coast, and to a considerable extent that of the Pacific and 

 the Gulf of Mexico, have been worked out either through the establish- 

 ment of the stations referred to or by sending special experts of the 

 Commission for the purpose. The general results of these investigations 

 are to be found partly in the published reports of the Commission, 

 partly in those still in press, and to a very large degree in the special 

 reports prepared by the Commission for the census of 1880. A quarto 

 report, ordered by Congress and now in press, will contain a large 

 amojiut of original information in regard to the natural history and con- 

 dition of the fishes and useful invertebrates of the ocean, lakes, and 

 rivers, illustrated by numerous well-executed figures. 



The approximate completion of the inshore research has allowed the 

 Commission to undertake more fully an examination of the deep seas; 

 and a systematic survey is now being made of the grounds where fish- 

 ermen have hitherto plied their vocation, with a view of determining 

 the extent and condition of the fishing banks, and also to find out what 

 additional localities heretofore undiscovered yet remain to reward the 

 labors of the " toilers of the sea." Much success has already bi^en experi- 

 enced in this latter respect, and new and extensive ranges for the prose- 

 cution of their vocation have been opened up. It is believed, however, 

 that much yet remains to be done, and it is hoped that in succeeding 

 years areas of important fishing ground of great extent will be brought 

 to light, especially in the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. 



For the better prosecution of this latter research Congress authorized 

 the construction of a first-class sea-going vessel, and in IMarch, 1882, 

 the contract was awarded to Messrs. Pusey & Jones, of Wilmington, 

 Del., for an iron vessel 200 feet long on the water line, 27 feet beam, and 



