74 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



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The experiments initiated at Gloucester in 1878, looking towards the 

 artificial propagation of the cod, were carried to completion in February, 

 1879, about one and a half millions of fish having been hatched out and 

 placed in Gloucester Harbor. The experiment was in every way satis- 

 factory, and the experience gained will be of the utmost benefit in the 

 future. The harbor of Gloucester, during the past summer, was full of 

 young codfish hatched out in this way, presenting a palpable feature of 

 the work, which was appreciated by all the inhabitants of that city. 



For the purpose of more efficiently conducting the work of the com- 

 mission in connection with the shad, herring, striped bass, codfish, and 

 other species, an appropriation of $15,000 was made in March last by 

 Congress for the construction of a suitable steamer, which should serve 

 as a floating- hatching establishment. This vessel is nearly completed, 

 and will, it is hoped, be ready for the work of 1880. 



Mr. Newton P. Scudder was sent, during the summer of 1879, to study 

 the halibut fisheries on the coast of Greenland. For a number of ymrs 

 the Holsteiuburg Banks, a short distance south of Disco, Greenland, 

 were visited by from one to seven vessels from Gloucester, annually. 

 These Tessels remained three or four months on the fishing-ground, and 

 salted down in their holds the halibut which they caught, and which 

 were brought home to be prepared in the smoke-houses. 



Mr. Scudder sailed from Gloucester on the schooner Bunker Hill, June 

 10, 1879, and on his return arrived in Gloucester September 17. He 

 secured a fine collection of Arctic marine birds, also, an interesting series 

 of Arctic fishes and invertebrates, and some valuable ethnological speci- 

 mens. 



Mr. H. L. Osborne was sent to the Grand Banks to study the methods 

 of the deep-sea cod fishery of that region. He left Gloucester on the 

 schooner Victor, July 10, and returned home in the latter part of Oc- 

 tober. His natural history collections were quite extensive, especially of 

 the different species of niollusks; and he has in preparation an elaborate 

 report upon the methods of this fishery and the characteristics of the 

 fishermen and the results of his natural history exploration. 



Mr. J. P. Gordy made a short cruise on a Gloucester mackerel schooner, 

 and lias presented a report upon the mental and moral characteristics 

 of the fishermen and niton the methods of this fishery. He returned to 

 Gloucester August 3, after an absence of three weeks. 



CO-OPEKATION OF THE UNITED STATES FISII COMMISSION AND OF THE 



CENSUS OF 1880. 



In the previous reports of the Census Department, the almost ludi- 

 crous incompleteness of that portion relating to the fisheries has been 

 a matter of notoriety ; and it was with much pleasure that I received 

 an invitation, as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and United 

 States Fish Commissioner, from General Walker, Superintendent of the 

 Census, to suggest a plan by which this defect might be remedied. At 



