REPORT OF THE DIVISION OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY. 



By Hugh M. Smith, Assistant in Charge. 



Up to December 31, 1896, this division was under the charge of Mr. 

 Richard Eathbun, who resigned to take eflect on that date, when IJr. 

 Hugh M. Smith was appointed to the vacancy. Other changes in the 

 personnel of the division consisted m the promotion of Dr. 11. F. Moore, 

 scientitic assistant, to the position of naturalist on the steamer Alba- 

 tt'oss, vice Mr. Charles H. Towusend, appointed assistant in charge of 

 Division of Fisheries, and Mr. F. M. Chamberlain, scientific assistant, 

 promoted to the i^osition of general assistant on Albatross, vice H. B, 

 Miller, deceased. Mr. M. C. Marsh, of Cornell University, was appointed 

 a scientific assistant in conformity with civil-service regulations. 



FIELD INVESTIGATIONS. 



During the j^ear numerous field inquiries were conducted in different 

 parts of the country. Besides the usual iuvestigatious of fishes of the 

 interior waters, which have been regularly carried on for a long series of 

 years, many special inquiries of a diverse character were undertaken. 



Extensive investigations in the waters of Idaho, Washington, and 

 Oregon were prosecuted. These had for their object the study of the 

 distribution, abundance, habits, and spawning of the salmon, trout, 

 and other native fishes ; the examination of various lakes with reference 

 to the introduction of the common eastern whitefish, and the survey 

 of streams with a view to ascertain their advantages and facilities for 

 fish-cultnral operations. The investigations were in immediate charge 

 of Prof. Barton W. Evermann, who was assisted by Mr. A. B. Alexander, 

 Dr. Seth E. Meek, Prof. Ulysses O. Cox, and Mr. A. G. Maddren. 



A systematic examination of the short coast rivers of the Pncific 

 Coast from San Francisco northward was begun. A number of inter- 

 esting inquiries in Florida, Mississipjd, Louisiana, and Texas were made 

 pursuant to special requests. 



Ontlines of the more imjtortant inquiries are here given. Detailed 

 accounts of some of them will be found in special printed reports. 



LOWEE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 



It being the intention of the Commission to establish a salmon 

 hatchery on one of the tributaries of the Columbia River, in order to 

 snp])leraent the fish-cultural operations of the hatchery on Clackamas 

 River, extensive investigations were made in August and September. 



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