50 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



the young fish was directed by Mr. J. W. Milner, Assistant United 

 States Fish Commissioner. 



Aft^r completing operations at Havre de Grace, the commission, 

 under Mr. Milner, transferred its operations to Holyoke, in Massachu- 

 setts, which resulted in about the average success. 



The yield of eggs of the California salmon from the United States 

 establishment situated on the McCloud Eiver, in Northern California, 

 was not so large as usual, in consequence of the interference with the 

 upward run of the fish by some canning establishments on the Lower 

 Sacramento. Between five and six millions of eggs, however, were se- 

 cured and duly distributed. These were sent to all parts of the United 

 States, as also to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Sandwich Isl- 

 ands, Germany, France, England, and the Netherlands. 



Nothing was done during the year with the Atlantic salmon, although 

 the establishment at Bucksport was kept in repair. 



Unusual success was experienced in the collection of eggs of the land- 

 locked salmon in the Grand Lake Stream in Eastern Maine, about two 

 millions having been secured and distributed to fish commissioners and 

 other parties in a large number of States. This work was prosecuted 

 in co-operation with the fish commissioners of Massachusetts and Con- 

 necticut, who bore a share of the expense. 



In the early part of the year Mr. Eudolph Hessel, an experienced fish 

 culturist, was sent to Germany to obtain a supply of the German carp, 

 and he brought back several hundred of the best varieties. These were 

 placed temporarily in certain ponds in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, un- 

 der the care of Mr. T. B. Ferguson. 



For the further treatment of these fish, and the multiplication of sufii- 

 cient numbers to commence distributing them throughout the United 

 States, Congress, in the latter part of the year, granted to the commis- 

 sion the use of the ponds on the Monument lot, in the city of Washing- 

 ton, and made an appropriation to fit them up properly. Work has 

 been begun upon these ponds, and it is hoped that in the course of the 

 year 1878 a successful beginning may be made in the way of distribu- 

 tion of fish from them. 



The labors of the United States Fish Commission can scarcely be too 

 highly estimated. A very large and increasing portion of human life is 

 sustained by the product of the water, especially of shores and rivers. 

 Organic matter necessary to the sustentation of life is produced by 

 radiation from the sun in connection with plants, but a large portion of 

 this is carried into the waters of rivers and that of the sea, by sewage 

 and drainage, and can only be reclaimed for human use by the produc- 

 tion of fishes. Hence, with the increase of population of civilized coun- 

 tries, the art of breeding and catching fish becomes as important, 

 almost, as the extension of arable land and the improvement of agri- 

 culture. Indeed, it becomes in some respects more valuable than these, 

 since it supplies food differing from that of the land; and, therefore, 

 adds to the variety of the means for gratifying the palate. 



