XXXIV REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



this plan an invitation of membership was extended to Portugal, 

 for it is known that Portuguese vessels engage extensively in the 

 Newfoundland banks fisheries. Plans were drawn for improving 

 the statistics of the fisheries in order to make available information 

 on the fishing effort, and hence arrive at some measure of the real 

 abundance of tke fish. Plans for extending and perfecting cod, had- 

 dock, and mackerel investigations and studies of ocean currents were 

 made. 



ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS 



In order more clearly to define the program of investigations of the 

 bureau and to provide for a continuity of policy and more complete 

 coordination of the various branches of the service, an advisory 

 committee on scientific investigations was appointed by the Secre- 

 tary of Commerce in March, 1926. This committee, uniting such 

 interests as those of eminent scientists, fishery administrators, com- 

 mercial fishermen, and bureau officials, consists of the following mem- 

 bers: Dr. H. B. Bigelow, consulting oceanographer, Harvard Uni- 

 versity; N. B. Scofield, California Fish and Game Commission; 

 Capt.F. W. Wallace, editor. Fishing Gazette; Dr. W. H. Rich, chief 

 Pacific salmon investigator; and Elmer Higgins, chief of the divi- 

 sion of scientific inquiry. At a preliminary meeting held in May 

 the policy of the division of inquiry was considered, and it was de- 

 cided that in order to increase the effectiveness of the biological sta- 

 tions of the bureau, in the event of overcrowding, volunteer investi- 

 gators be selected in the future from among those who have shown 

 ability in conducting energetic and productive research and who are 

 engaged in the investigation of problems closely related to the fish- 

 eries. The principle of stressing the investigation of the immediate 

 rather than the ultimate problems of the fisheries was formally ap- 

 proved, and other details of the work were considered. 



The demands upon the bureau for investigations are so numerous, 

 the interests so diverse, and the areas to be covered so great, that 

 in many lines effective research is seriously handicapped. Through 

 cooperative arrangements with several State fish commissions, how- 

 ever, much more has been accomplished than would have been pos- 

 sible otherwise. Joint investigations by the bureau and the State 

 governments previously initiated include work on the oysters in 

 Georgia, the mullet and sea-trout fisheries in North Carolina, salmon 

 investigations in California, Oregon, and Washington, and a study 

 of food supply in lake waters in Michigan and Wisconsin. Addi- 

 tional projects have been undertaken in South Carolina and Texas, 

 where oyster resources are being investigated. The coastal fisheries 

 of Texas are receiving particular attention. Following is a brief 

 resume of results of the more important activities of the division of 

 inquiry. 



ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES 



The cod, pollock, and haddock fisheries of the north Atlantic 

 are some of the most remarkable fisheries in the world. Situated 

 in an exceptionally rich and extensive area of shallow waters, com- 

 prising the Gulf of Maine and the offshore banks, this fishery has 

 supplied, with apparently undiminished productivity, over 140,000,- 



