XXX REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



The interchange of ideas between the States and the bureau has 

 developed higher efficiency throughout the service by the adoj^tion of 

 more improved methods. In many instances the bureau has lent the 

 services of its employees to the States to investigate fish-cultural 

 sites and aid them in the establishment of hatcheries. The States 

 have borne the entire expense of the work, so that this service has 

 been performed -without cost to the Government. It is felt that by 

 helping the States in this way and by assisting them in initiating a 

 fish-cultural and propagation program the present drain upon the 

 bureau's resources, which are now overtaxed to meet the public de- 

 mand for fish, will be relieved. Aid was given to the States of West 

 Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia by detailing experienced men 

 to assist them in locating hatcheries. 



During the fall of 1924 the State of Michigan enacted legislation 

 requiring that fishermen engaged in the capture of fish of the im- 

 portant commercial species in the Great Lakes region turn over to 

 the bureau's agents, without cost, all the ripe spawn obtained. If 

 this law can be enforced it will, in effect, secure the cooperation of 

 all commercial fishermen in the maintenance of the fish supply in 

 the waters of Michigan. In this respect the State of Michigan has 

 taken the lead by establishing a policy which should be f ollow^ecl 

 by all States having commercial fishing, especially where the eggs 

 of the commercial species are taken. The State and Federal Gov- 

 ernments should not be required to pay for ripe spawn obtained from 

 the commercial species, since they are endeavoring to maintain the 

 supply of these fishes for the benefit of the fishermen. Information 

 received from other States indicates that they are beginning to 

 realize that the commercial waters along their boundaries are the 

 property of the general public, and that those who derive benefit 

 from the fisheries should be required to assist in their maintenance. 



During the fiscal year 1925 the bureau effected a very advan- 

 tageous exchange of eggs Avith the Canadian fisheries authorities, 

 receiving eggs of the Atlantic salmon in return for an equal number 

 of trout eggs. 



A very favorable report has been received from Chile as to the 

 success attained with chinook-salmon eggs forwarded to that coun- 

 try from one of the bureau's Washington hatcheries during the fiscal 

 year 1924. 



By means of several shipments of eggs furnished in recent years 

 to the Hawaiian Government from the bureau's stations in the 

 Rocky Mountain region, the rainboAv trout has become successfully 

 established in that country, and reports indicate that the fish have 

 made a remarkable growth in a number of the mountain streams. 



In the course of the past year the fisheries authorities of State and 

 foreign governments and the Canal Zone were supplied with fish and 

 fish eggs in the following numbers : 



