64 EEPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Commerce and Labor were continued throughout the fiscal year, and 

 have not yet been concluded. Up to June 30, 1912, 29 hearings 

 had been held and the printed testimony had been issued in 13 parts, 

 comprising 896 printed pages. 



The question of Federal control over migratory birds is covered 

 by several bills pending in Congress. Durmg hearings on these bills, 

 arguments were incidentally presented by State officials and others 

 favoring the extension of Federal jurisdiction so as to cover migratory 

 fishes. The serious condition of the fish supply in some interstate 

 streams, and the apparent inability of the States to afford adec{uate 

 protection, appear to warrant this appeal to Congress. 



The diplomatic and consular appropriation act for the fiscal year 

 ending June 30, 1913, contains an item authorizing the participation 

 of the United States in the Permanent International Council for the 

 Exploration of the Sea. The bill carries an appropriation for the 

 pro rata share of this country in the administrative expenses of the 

 council and for other purposes, including the attendance ''of an expert 

 official representative at the annual meeting." Reference has been 

 made in a previous report to the purposes, organization, and work of 

 this council, and to the official invitation to joui the council, extended 

 to the United States Government several years ago. The matter 

 comes under the jurisdiction of the Department of State, but the 

 necessary cooperative and mdependent investigations growing out 

 of this affiliation with the nations of Europe will be conducted by 

 this Bureau. 



MISCELLANEOUS RELATIONS AND ACTIVITIES. 

 NEW STATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 



Recognizing the value and efficiency of the Bureau's work in 

 mamtaining and increasing the supply of native food fishes, Congress 

 has authorized the establishment of new fish-cultural stations in 

 Kentucky, South Carolina, and Wyoming. Investigations have 

 been made looking to the selection of sites for these stations, and 

 locations have been decided on at Louisville, Ky., Orangeburg, S. C, 

 and Saratoga, Wyo. It is expected that construction work on these 

 stations will have progressed sufficiently to enable practical operations 

 to begin by the close of the fiscal year 1913. 



By authority of the act of January 29, 1909, authorizing the 

 construction of two or more salmon-culture stations in the Puget 

 Sound region, two stations (Quilcene and Duckabush) have been 

 completed and opened for work, land has been acquired for a station 

 (Birdsview) operated as an auxiliary of the Baker Lake hatchery, 

 and there has been an examination of a site at Darlington with a 

 view to the establishment of a fourth station within the limits of the 

 original appropriation. 



