82 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



have been in the habit of giving in the Smithsonian Annual Beport some 

 account of the work accomplished in the last mentioned capacity; ami 

 I take great pleasure in saying that the workings of the Commission 

 have continued to show the usual ratio of increase in extent and ap- 

 parent practical value. 



The difference in extent between the work of 1871 and that of 1883 

 is very great, each year showing some extension of tbe scheme, and 

 more and more important measures instituted for investigation into the 

 conditions of the fisheries, and for increasing the fisheries supply. 



The full details of operations of the Commission will be found in its 

 very voluminous reports year by year; these embracing not only the 

 general history of the Commission, but also a report of what is done in 

 the same direction by other establishments throughout the world. 



The most important fact in this connection is the completion of the 

 steamer Albatross, of which mention was made in the last report, and 

 the result of her investigations in regard to the physics and natural 

 history of the various parts of the ocean. Many regions were surveyed 

 and important facts ascertained respecting the existence and extent of 

 new fishing banks, while the amount of material gathered, new to 

 science, has been enormous. Many undescribed species of deep-sea 

 fishes were secured, some of these from a depth of more than three 

 miles. 



As in previous years, the summer station of the Commission was at 

 Wood's Holl, Mass., where the arrangements for making a permanent 

 establishment, principally for the purpose of hatching sea-fish in very 

 large numbers, were actively prosecuted. The construction of build- 

 ings was commenced aud well advanced before the close of the year. 

 The Government pier, for which appropriation was made in the Eiver 

 and Harbor bill, was already begun, but will not be sufficiently com- 

 pleted to promise much service before 1885. 



The work of propagation of food-fishes generally, was conducted on a 

 larger scale than before, especially in connection with the whitefish of 

 the lakes, of which about one hundred millions of eggs were secured 

 aud placed in the hatching houses at Northville and Alpena, Mich., for 

 development. 



The number of eggs of the shad obtained was not as large as the 

 year before, owing to the meteorological conditions, which interfered 

 with the free influx of the fish from the ocean. 



About the average of work was accomplished in connection with the 

 Penobscot and the land-locked salmon. 



An increase was effected in regard to the California trout. 



Beyond a few millions of eggs taken of the California salmon, not 

 much was accomplished, in consequence of the interruption to the up- 

 ward migration of the fish in the Sacramento Eiver, caused by the 

 blasting of rocks along the shores for the purpose of railroad construc- 

 tion. 



Perhaps the greatest success of the Commission has been with the 



