XXVI REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



NORTH AMERICAN COMMITTEE OX FISHERY INVESTIGATION 



The committee held two meetings during the year' — one at Mont- 

 real, Canada, on November 7, 1924, and the other in New York 

 City, on May 8, 1925. These were attended by Henry O'Malle}'. 

 Dr. H. B. liigelow, and Dr. W. H. Rich, representing the United 

 States. 



At both meetings consideration was given to coordinating the 

 statistical work of the various Governments represented, especialh' 

 in so far as the bank fisheries are concerned. Arrangements were 

 made for the exchange of statistical data between the United States 

 and Canada, and it is expected that the committee will be able 

 to prevail upon other Governments to supply similar data. Onh'' 

 in this way will it be possible to obtain complete information re- 

 garding the productivity of these fisheries. In this connection steps 

 were taken to inaugurate a system of fish measuring, which will 

 provide vital statistics for some of the more important species. It 

 was decided that the initial efforts should be directed toward the 

 mackerel, and the bureau has begun to gather these data for the 

 American fishery. The collection of temperature data along the 

 Atlantic coast, mentioned above, was begun at the suggestion of the 

 committee. Further cooperation between the United States and 

 Canada in oceanographic studies and cOd-tagging operations was 

 arranged, and plans were made for the extension of both these lines 

 of investigation. 



PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES 

 FISH-CULTURAL OPERATIONS 



The increasing interest on the part of the general public in the 

 stocking of interior waters Avith suitable species of fish is clearly 

 shown by the numerous letters that are being received from all 

 parts of the country expressing appreciation of the results attained 

 with fish distributed by the bureau's hatcheries. These letters indi- 

 cate that the people are becoming more appreciative of the im- 

 portance of stopping the destruction of fish caused by their indis- 

 criminate introduction into waters to which they are not adapted 

 and by planting harmful, nonindigenous species. The heavy de- 

 mands made upon the bureau by schools throughout the country 

 for information on fish life and fish-cultural methods is another 

 indication of this interest. Civic organizations all over the country 

 are also asking for advice along this line. 



Inadequate protection or a total lack of protection menace the 

 future fish supply. Probably the most destructive factor en- 

 countered in connection with the maintenance of the fresh-water 

 fisheries is the widespread practice of dumping trade wastes and 

 sewage into public waters. Much of this material is harmful to 

 adult fish, and very often it destroj^s the minute organisms upon 

 wdiich the young fish subsist. Nature supplies a very complete 

 series of fish foods, ranging from the lowest and most microscopic 

 forms of vegetable and animal life to the higher organisms, and in 

 order to attain success in fish culture serious study of these organisms 

 and their interrelations is essential. 



