20 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



APPROPRIATIONS. 



The appropriations for the Bureau for the fiscal year 1908 were 

 as follows: 



Salaries $288, 660 



Agents at Alaska Salmon Fisheries 4, 500 



Miscellaneous expenses : 



Administration 8, 000 



Propagation of food fishes 275,000 



Inquiry respecting food fishes 25, 000 



Statistical inquiry 7,500 



Maintenance of vessels 55,000 



For construction of buildings and wharves and purchase of lobster 



pound, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 15,000 



For construction and repairs of buildings, ponds, and reservoir at 



Spearfish, S. Dali 5,000 



For completion of fish hatcheries in Alaska 20,000 



In accordance with law the expenditures under these several ap- 

 propriations will be the subject of a special report. 



CONSERVATION OF FISHERY RESOURCES. 



The year has been marked by unusual interest in the protection of 

 the inhabitants of our interior and coastwise waters and by note- 

 worthy movements for the maintenance of fishery resources. Fore- 

 most among the measures of this kind is the formation of the Na- 

 tional Conservation CommissioUj whose plans and purposes are of 

 far-reaching importance to the fisheries. It is hoped that, in addi- 

 tion to its other functions, this commission will definitely ascertain 

 and recommend the relations that the fisheries should bear to agri- 

 culture, forestry, navigation, mining, and other industries, and will 

 also take steps for cooperation between fishing and irrigation in all 

 public and interstate waters. 



Another very important matter affecting the fisheries is the con- 

 vention concluded between . the United States and Great Britain 

 under date of April 11, 1908, by which international regulations for 

 the protection and preservation of the food fishes of the Great Lakes 

 and other waters contiguous to the United States and Canada will be 

 formulated and enforced by an international commission appointed 

 by the two Governments. The necessity for such an international 

 agreement has long been appreciated; and the practical unanimity 

 with which the States have been willing to relinquish jurisdiction 

 heretofore exercised is a most encouraging evidence of regard for the 

 welfare of the fisheries. 



The most serious condition now confronting the American fishing 

 industry is the failure of the States to afford adequate protection to 

 migratory fishes in state and interstate waters. With the history of 



