12 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



result of the experiments at Fairport was to enable the Bureau in a 

 period of food emergency to issue a printed circular describing in 

 detail the construction of a simple portable smokehouse, the methods 

 of operation for different fishes, and the ciualities of taste imparted 

 to the fish by several sorts of fuel. This was followed almost imme- 

 diately by sending out demonstration parties along principal rivers 

 and even along the seacoast, proving by actual test, both to fisher- 

 men and to housekeepers, that "coarse" or "useless" fishes could 

 be made palatable to the consumer and profitable to the fishermen. 

 This was a simple and practical thing to do, but it required some 

 years of experimental work, as opportunity offered, to try out various 

 fishes by varied methods and to learn some things that were entirely 

 unexpected. 



The Fairport station, then, as a special agency of the Bureau of 

 Fisheries, adapts its services within reasonable limits to the varying 

 needs arising within its sphere of action. It endeavors to bring about 

 a broader and better understanding of our inland waters as national 

 resources — that they may be viewed not only as channels of surface- 

 water drainage, as avenues of transportation, or as convenient and 

 economical sewers, but as fields for the continuous production of 

 necessities of food and raiment. It has set before it the task of dis- 

 covering by scientific study and by practical experiment the con- 

 ditions of preservation and increase of the useful life of inland waters. 



Its work should tend to disclose what degree of protection is neces- 

 sary and what methods are feasible, what conditions of biological, 

 chemical, and physical environment are favorable for increased pro- 

 duction of fish and other aquatic animals, and what measures may 

 be taken to improve the environments in ponds, lakes, and streams. 



The objective, let us say, is the prevention of the continued deple- 

 tion of our aquatic resources, and the bringing of all interior waters 

 to a condition of greatest fruitfulness. The way may be long and 

 beset with obstacles, and success can be attained but gradually and 

 by means of persistent effort and painstaking study. As we have 

 indicated, some small milestones of progress have been passed, but 

 it must be evident to all that the main task is for the futm'e and that 

 it is big enough and sufficiently complex and offers a degree of promise 

 not only to justify the best efforts of the station, but to enlist the 

 cooperation of all those having opportunity and interest to render 

 public service through attention to the resources of interior waters. 



