22 EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



may be made the means of saving millions of most desirable food 

 fishes that are now lost each year. To this end there should be estab- 

 lished in convenient parts of the Mississippi Valley several stations 

 with large pond capacity for the retention of rescued fishes pending 

 their distribution to suitable waters. 



NEW FISH-CULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



It is urgently recommended that there be established within con- 

 venient distance from Washington a composite station for pond and 

 river fishes, which shall be operated chiefly for the purpose of de- 

 veloping and improving methods and for the solution of the numer- 

 ous problems that are continuall}'^ arising in the course of the Bureau's 

 work. Such a station as is desired was in a measure afforded by the 

 Fish Lakes in Washington ; but since their abandonment the Bureau 

 has had no adequate facilities for experimental work under executive 

 supervision, and the settlement of various important questions has had 

 to be deferred, for it is not possible to carry on the necessary investi- 

 gations at the established hatcheries because, in addition to adverse 

 conditions for the experiments, the regular and required hatchery 

 work would be interfered with and the output of fish curtailed. The 

 expense of such a station, with the additional expert services the work 

 requires, would be more than repaid by the increased efficiency of the 

 fish-cultural work and the greater economy of administration. 



FEDERAL CONTROL OF INTERSTATE FISHERIES AND FISH TRADE. 



In the present far-reaching movement for conservation of natural 

 resources, the necessity for uniform and adequate fishery protective 

 laws covering interstate waters has been emphasized anew. It is 

 accordingly believed that in view of the lack of concerted action on 

 the part of the States the migratory fishes, at least, in such waters 

 should be made the subject of Federal legislation. Such legislation 

 should furthermore be reenforced by extension of the provisions of 

 the Lacey Act to interstate traffic in fish and fishery products. 



NEW BUILDING AND AQUARIUM. 



Again is urged the necessity for providing the Bureau with ade- 

 quate office, laboratory, and aquarium facilities, a recommendation 

 that has been approved by the present Secretary and his two prede- 

 cessors. The present cramped and obsolete quarters, lacking in labo- 

 ratory and storage facilities, greatly retard the operations of the 

 Bureau and diminish its efficiency in various essential lines of work. 

 A new building on the present or an adjoining site is an absolute 

 essential for enabling the Bureau to meet the increasing exactions of 



