X llEPOItT TO TKE SECKETAEY OF COMMERCE 



In providing effective cooperation with the Federal Government 

 in the enforcement of the blaclc bass law it was recommended that the 

 States (1) prohibit the sale of black bass whether taken within or 

 without the State; (2) provide entire closure to fishing during the 

 spawning season of the bass; (3) prohibit the export of bass, allowing 

 the nonresident licensee to carry out a 2-day bag limit; (4) provide 

 a uniform size limit; and (5) provide a daily bag limit; and further 

 that the Federal and State agencies increase their output of young 

 bass to care for the demand from private cooperative agencies de- 

 sirous of rearing the young to fingerling sizes for stocking purposes 

 and for more generous plantings in the streams. 



COOPERATION WITH STATES 



With the work of the bureau extending into every State, coopera- 

 tive arrangements are frequently entered into with the various agen- 

 cies engaged in similar work. This prevents duplication of effort 

 and effects a considerable saving of money for all concerned. 



In its limnological survey of Lake Erie the bureau has been aided 

 by the States of Ohio and New York. Similar arrangements exist with 

 Wisconsin in the lake work of that State. Cooperative arrangements 

 with Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas in the shrimp work have greatly 

 enlarged its scope, the two former States financing the operations of 

 two of the bureau's vessels assigned to their waters. California is 

 assisting with the trout and steelhead salmon studies on the Pacific 

 slope. The oyster work of the bureau has been materially aided by 

 the cooperation of Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, 

 Oregon, and Washington. In the fish cultural work the Rocky 

 Mountain States have been very helpful in the program of restoring 

 the depleted streams of this popular fishing section to former 

 abundance by mutually beneficial cooperative egg collecting and 

 rearing operations. In addition, cooperation has been received in 

 this work from many of the other States, notably Michigan, Minne- 

 sota, Washington, and Oregon. In so far as personnel is available 

 expert advice has been freely granted to State and private fish- 

 culturists in the solving of their various problems. Exceptional 

 cooperation also has been received in the collection of statistics. 

 Many States furnish data so complete that only supplemental sur- 

 A'eys need be made by the bureau's agents. In the enforcement 

 worlv of the new black bass law the bureau, on account of limited 

 funds, has had to depend on State help and cooperation to expedite 

 the program. This has been freely given, and many of the States 

 Jire assisting by allowing the appointment of their regularly em- 

 ployed State fish and game protectors to the cooperative position of 

 Federal black bass law inspectors, for which they receive no remu- 

 neration, thus rendering a distinct service in a very material way. 



In addition to the States, the Navy Department, through the 

 transjoorting of supplies to the Pribilof Islands, has given valuable 

 and much appreciated aid and, together with the War Department, 

 has loaned vessels for other services as well. The United States 

 Forest Service and the National Park Service rely upon the bureau 

 for fish for stocking the streams and lakes in their reservations and 

 cooperate to the fullest extent. 



