REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 33 
Congress might see fit to take. Accordingly, during the fall and 
winter of 1900-1901 Dr. H. F. Moore was detailed to visit Texas and 
Louisiana for this purpose; Dr. W. C. Kendall went to all suitable 
localities on the shores of Mississippi and Alabama, and Dr. H. M. 
Smith made an examination of points on the Florida coast between 
Tarpon Springs and Key West. Reports on these investigations have 
been submitted. 
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY EXHIBIT AT PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION. 
An exhibit illustrating the functions and work of this division, and 
forming a part of the general exhibition of the Commission at the 
Pan-American Exposition, was collated by Dr. H. F. Moore, Mr. M. C. 
Marsh, and the writer. 
The collection, which was one of the most complete and instructive 
of the kind ever brought together by the Commission, included the 
following objects: (1) Models of the steamers Albatross and Fish 
Hawk, to whose investigations most of the knowledge of the deep- 
water life of our coasts is due; (2) samples of the beam trawls, dredges, 
rakes, tow nets, tangles, seines, gill nets, and other apparatus used in 
making collections of water animals; (3) samples of the vessels used 
for the preservation and transportation of collections; (4) a sounding 
machine and its accessories, for determining the depth of water, the 
bottom temperature, and the nature of the bottom; (5) a map showing 
where the Commission has carried on scientific investigations, and 
plates used in illustrating the reports of the Commission. 
As pertinent to the functions of this division of the Commission, 
there were also shown series of specimens illustrating the aquatic 
resources of the country, including the economic mollusks, crusta- 
ceans, and other invertebrates of the United States and Porto Rieo. 
Special exhibits of this nature were the commercial sponges of Florida; 
the pearl-bearing mussels of the Mississippi basin, many of which are 
used in button-making; the oysters of all coastal regions, displayed 
with reference to their growth, life-history, and enemies. Ten charts 
showing the geographical distribution of the most important food- 
fishes of the Great Lakes were also prepared. 
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF AQUICULTURE AND FISHERIES. 
In conjunction with the Universal Exposition at Paris in 1900, there 
was held, under the direction of the French government, an inter- 
national congress of aquiculture and fisheries, under the presidency 
of Prof. Edmond Perrier, member of the Institute and director of the 
Museum of Natural History of Paris. The congress convened on 
September 14, in the Palais des Congrés, and was formally opened by 
the French minister of commerce. Professor Perrier then delivered 
an able introductory address, and the congress resolved itself into 
sections for convenience in considering the various subjects that 
came before it. About 100 delegates from Europe and America were 
in attendance, most of the countries of Europe being represented by 
