2 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



On February 15, 1895, the Senate passed the following: 



Resolved, That tlie Commissioner of Fisheries is hereby directed to make inquiry 

 iu reference to the extent, methods, and present ccmdition of the coast fisheries of 

 I'lorida, more iiarticularly the sponge and oyster fisheries, and to report as to the 

 desirability of establishing a station for investigation, experiment, and fish-culture 

 at some suitable point on the coast. 



Some preliminary investigations were begun by the Commissioner 

 shortly after the passage of the resolution, but his declining health 

 preventing their completion, Dr. Hugh M. Smith, the assistant in 

 charge of the Division of Statistics, was detailed to make further 

 investigations, and examined several localities on the east coast of 

 Florida with a view to their suitability for a fish cultural station. His 

 report on Biscayne Bay, found hereafter, embodies the results of this 

 partial investigation. 



Under direction of the architect and engineer of the Commission, 

 work of constructing new stations was carried on at San Marcos, Tex., 

 Bozeman, Mont., and Manchester, Iowa. 



At San Marcos it was deemed advisable, on account of the delay in 

 building the dam across the San Marcos River, which was by agree- 

 ment to be erected by the San Marcos Water Company and the citizens 

 ■of San Marcos, to sink an artesian well for the purpose of supplying 

 some of the ponds intended to be built on the higher ground. A con- 

 tract was entered into witli Judson Bros., of San Antonio, Tex., who 

 were the lowest bidders, and work was promptly begun. A depth of 

 about 1,300 feet was reached by the en<l of the fiscal year, with a light 

 flow of water at a temperature of 80 degrees. The plan for laying out 

 the ponds was completed and excavations were begun. 



There remained on July 1, 1894, an available balance of $11,731.95 of 

 the money appropriated for the construction of a fish-hatchery at Boze- 

 man, Mont., after paying for the land and incidental expenses. Plans 

 and specifications were prepared for the construction of a fish-hatchery, 

 outbuildings, and icehouse, and after due advertisement bids were 

 received and a contract entered into on December 24, 1894, with Peter T. 

 Morris, the lowest bidder. Owing to the severe climate and the lateness 

 of the season the work was not begun until the latter jiartof April, 1895. 

 Mr. Juan J. Jiminez was employed to superintend tlie laying out of the 

 ponds, as well as the construction of the hatchery and other buildings. 

 Tbis work was nearly completed at the close of the fiscal year. 



In January, 1894, the Commissioner recommended to Congress the 

 establishment of a station at either Manchester or Decorah, Iowa, and 

 Congress, by act approved August 18, 1894, appropriated $15,000 for 

 the establishment of such a station. Accordingly, in October, the 

 Commissioner directed the architect and engineer to make a further 

 examination of these two places. After a careful consideration of the 

 advantages of each place a site at Manchester, comprising 25 acres, and 

 which was donated by the citizens, was selected and surveyed, and the 

 deed of this property from Charles Thorpe and others was transmitted 



