50 EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



azon in 1848, also fmnislied a valuable collection from that river. From 

 Dr. Hering was also received a collection of the species of Surinam. 



Fishes. — As might naturally he expected, from the close connection 

 of the operations of the United States Fish Commission with those of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, the additions in this department have been 

 especially noteworthy, and include not only various specimens of im- 

 j)ortant scientific interest, but also many illustrating and attesting the 

 propriety of national aid in the multiplication of useful food-fishes. 



It is considered especially desirable to bring together in Washington 

 a complete rej^resentation of the food-fishes of the United States, both 

 inland and marine ; and also such kinds from other countries as tend to 

 illustrate the American species, or as may suggest future action in the 

 way of their introduction and acclimation in the jSTew World. 



The series of species of the salmon family, contributed by Mr. Living- 

 ston Stone from the salmon-hatching establishment on the McCloud 

 Eiver, in the Upper Sacramento Valley; and those furnished by Mr. 

 Charles Gr. Atkins, from his works in Bucksport and Grand Lake Stream 

 in Maine, have constituted the most important additions of fresh- water 

 species; while the special labors of the United States Fish Comudssion 

 at Gloucester, Massachusetts, aided by the fishermen of that place, have 

 brought to light nearly 20 forms of deep-sea fishes, previously unknown. 



Next to the collections from the station of the United States Fish 

 Commission at Gloucester, the most important additions to the marine 

 fishes have been received from Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, for a long time an 

 employe of the Commission, and stationed at Wood's Holl, whose vigilant 

 attention to the subject brought to light a number of additional species, 

 so that now the Wood's Holl record embraces nearly 140 different kinds. 



From Mr. Silas Stearns, of Pensacola, while connected with the Pensa- 

 cola Ice Company; from Mr. James C. Leslie, of Charleston; from Mr. 

 Samuel Powel, of Newport ; from Dr. Porter, U. S, A., and Mr. Moore, 

 of the Tortugas, have come many additions to our knowledge of the dis- 

 tribution of species, through their contributions to the National Museum. 



The Museum is also indebted in a very marked degree, as for many 

 years past, to the services of Mr. E. G. Blackford, the well-known fish 

 dealer of Fulton Market, New York, for the transmission of many valu- 

 able specimens. By an arrangement with the wholesale dealers and the 

 fishermen, this gentleman is always notified of the appearance in the 

 market of specimens that are believed to have an interest, either from 

 their novelty or any other cause, and, in the exercise of an excellent 

 judgment, whatever is thought will be valued in Washington is promptly 

 transmitted to the National Museum. To no other single i)erson is the 

 Institution indebted for so many favors in this direction as to Mr. Black- 

 ford. 



From the museum of the Wesleyan University, at Middletown, have 

 been received a considerable number of fishes, collected in the Bermudas 

 by Mr. G. Brown Goode ; from Professor Felipe Poey also a number of 



