10 EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIOI^ER OF Fl^HEEIES. 



cuda. A vital desideratum of the Bureau, if it is to fulfill its func- 

 tions and render the largest measure of service to the fisheries, is ade- 

 quate provision in the matter of personnel and funds to enable it to 

 render the canning industry of all sections aid in the preservation of 

 crabs, shrimps, turtles, and certain fishes, and determining more 

 definitely the possibility of applying newer methods in the case of 

 staple canned fishery products. The need for accurate data in these 

 fields is well shown by the large number of requests that the Bureau 

 receives. 



PRESERVATION OF FISH NETS. 



Outside of Norway very little investigation or experimentation has 

 been done on the preservation of fish nets. In that country consider- 

 able attention has been given to developing new methods and improv- 

 ing old ones. This important means of economizing in the expense 

 of nets seems to have been neglected in the United States, where the 

 only preservative employed to a considerable extent is tar, the use of 

 which is confined to the coarser kinds of nets. As a basis for future 

 investigative work and for the immediate benefit of the American 

 fisheries, one of the Bureau's assistants has reviewed the literature 

 on the subject, assembling important scientific data and tests for pub- 

 lication. Some of the more common and efficacious preservatives 

 used for such purposes are catechu, quercitron, or other tanning ex- 

 tract, linseed oil, tar, and soap, followed by soaking in a solution of 

 copper sulphate. 



It may be pointed out that one of the important functions of the 

 Bureau is to make available to fishermen the scientific and practical 

 experiences of foreign countries. Through such studies of the for- 

 eign literature, results of great value may be obtained for direct use 

 in the industry or as the basis for additional experimental work in 

 our fishery products laboratory. 



USE or AEROPLANES IN THE FISHERIES. 



The possibility of practical use of aeroplanes in various branches 

 of the fisheries is one of the most interesting developments in avia- 

 tion. The most obvious j)urpose that aeroplanes may serve is in 

 the offshore fisheries in determining the location of whales and 

 schools of surface-swimming fishes, like mackerel and menhaden, and 

 in promptly communicating this information to fishing vessels or to 

 shore stations. Other uses of aircraft in connection with the fishing 

 industry will doubtless arise. 



In April, 1919, it was suggested to menhaden companies operating 

 in the Chesapeake Bay region and having vessels that frequent the 

 grounds off the Virginia capes that seaplanes might be used advan- 

 tageously in helping the fishermen find fish. Desirous of determin- 

 ing the practicability of the commercial use of aeroplanes in the 

 fisheries, the Bureau was instrumental in bringing about an arrange- 

 ment between the Naval Aviation Service and the menhaden fisher- 

 men whereby naval seaplanes were made available for observation 

 flights in quest of menhaden. Subsequently radio apparatus was 

 installed on two menhaden vessels and at a factory on Chesapeake 

 Bay, so as to be able to communicate with the seaplanes, '.the offshore 



