56 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



The great London International Fisheries Exposition. — The success of 

 the Berlin Fishery Exhibition in 1880, and those of Norwich in 1881 

 and Edinburgh in 1882, induced a number of gentlemen in England to 

 propose an exhibition in London in 1883, that should far surpass any of 

 its predecessors. The necessary arrangements were made, and invita- 

 tions extended to the United States to participate. This was favorably 

 responded to by an enactment of Congress appropriating $50,000 for the 

 purpose, and requiring the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fish- 

 eries, under the direction of the Secretary of State, to take the necessary 

 measures toward participation by the United States in the display in 

 question. The work of preparation was placed in the hands of Mr. Gr. 

 Brown Goode, who, with the help of the gentlemen who have been trained 

 for the work by the Census investigations, and of the assistants in the 

 National Museum, and the United States Fish Commission, made everj' 

 possible effort to secure a satisfactory competition on the part of the 

 United States. Much important material was already on hand, partly 

 gathered for the Fisheries Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1870, partly 

 for that of Berlin in 1880, and to a considerable extent representing 

 the general and incidental gatherings of the Fish Commission. 



The exhibition in question will open early in May, 1883, and it is 

 hoped that the report of the result will be as satisfactory to the pride 

 of every American as was that of the Exhibition at Berlin already re- 

 ferred to. 



Respectfully submitted, 



SPENCER F. BAIRD, 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 



