X REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



FISH HATCHERIES 



During the first session of the Sixty-ninth Congress there were 

 introduced 36 bills for the establishment of fish-cultural stations, 

 distributed among 23 States. Many of these bills provide for hatch- 

 eries in sections that are in need of aid to replenish the depleted 

 supply of fish. Only two auxiliary stations were authorized — one 

 in Georgia and one in Colorado. 



Only two of the bills submitted provided for the establishment of 

 stations for the propagation of marine fishes. The bureau has op- 

 posed the establishment of additional marine stations, as it is be- 

 lieved that before such stations are authorized careful scientific in- 

 vestigations should be made. These should determine the practica- 

 bility of (1) hatching the species common to the region, (2) obtain- 

 ing eggs in sufficient quantities to warrant the investment, and (3) 

 assurance that such operations will yield results commensurate with 

 their cost. It is believed that, in general, the application of proper 

 conservation measures, the saving of immature and undersized fish 

 from destruction, and other proper regulatory practices will accom- 

 plish more in maintaining a fishery for marine species than will 

 the establishment of a marine hatchery. 



In the present marine stations in the New England area the eggs 

 are salvaged from the catch of the commercial fishermen. In so far 

 as practicable spawn takers accompany the fishing vessels to the 

 fishing grounds, strip the ripe fish in the market catch, and fertilize 

 and return the eggs to the water on the natural spawning grounds. 



The output of these marine stations represents about 75 per cent 

 of the total output by the bureau, produced at a cost of less than 

 7.25 per cent of the total outlay from all sources used in the bureau's 

 fish-cultural work. The cost of this marine work was less than $14 

 per million of eggs and fry produced. 



STATE LEGISLATION 



The States are revealing a growing interest in the enactment of 

 more adequate legislation for the maintenance of their fisheries, as 

 evidenced by the character of legislation approved. For example, 

 New York State has amended its conservation law by forbidding 

 the purchase, sale, or offering for sale of 10 important food fishes 

 measuring less than certain prescribed lengths. This measure was 

 sponsored by the commercial fisherman to lessen the destruction of 

 undersized or immature fish. Virginia has increased the protection 

 afforded the blue crab by more specifically defining the peeler crab, 

 increasing the size limits on hard crabs, and prohibiting the taking 

 of egg-bearing female crabs (sponge crabs) at any season. 



One of the most constructive measures the States could provide 

 at this time would be one for the regular and continuous collection 

 of fishery statistics along uniform lines, so that the statistics of one 

 State would be comparable with those of another. Such measures 

 are highly essential for revealing the trend and condition of im- 

 portant fisheries. 



