CXXXIV REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The nature and scope of tlie work iucluded under the functions of this 

 division may be tlius summarized : 



(a) A general study of the economic ocean, coast, river, and lake 

 fisheries of the United States in their statistical, historical, and other 



(&) A study of the vessels, boats, apparatus, and methods employed 

 for the purpose of ascertaining those which are most effectual and eco- 

 nomical, of suggesting improvements, and of discouraging the use of 

 forms of apparatus and methods of caj)ture that are unnecessarily 

 destructive. 



(c) An investigation of the fishing- grounds resorted to by American 

 fishermen, with a view to ascertain their resources, the seasons of 

 abundance of the fish and other water products occurriug thereon, and 

 the effects of present and past methods of fishing on the supply. 



(d) A consideration of the economic and social conditions of the fish- 

 ing population, their nationality and nativity, wages, disasters, etc. 



(e) An investigation of the methods of curing, freezrog, canning, and 

 otherwise preparing fishery products for market, the offering of sugges- 

 tions for the utilization offish and other aquatic animals that are now- 

 regarded as of little or no value and are usually thrown away or sold 

 at nominal prices. 



(/) An inquiry into the condition and extent of the wholesale trades 

 in fishery products, the sources of supply, the principal lines of distri- 

 bution, and the means and methods of transportation. 



(g) A consideration of the international relations of the fisheries and 

 the collection of information bearing on questions involving the privi- 

 leges, movements, treatment, expenditures, etc., of American fishermen 

 in foreign waters and ports. 



(/i) The dissemination among the fishing interests, either by corre- 

 spondence or printed reports, of information intended to promote the 

 industry; the preparation for State fish commissions or other State 

 officers of special reports illustrating the fishery resources of the States. 



(i) The determination of the results of artificial propagation and of 

 legislation on the abundance of fishes and other economic products. 



While the functions of the division are sufficiently well marked, they 

 nevertheless, in certain lines, necessarily overlap tliose of the Division 

 of Fish-culture on the one hand and the Division of Scientific Inquiry 

 on the other. The determination of the results of artificial propagation 

 and of the necessity for its inauguration naturally fall to its considera- 

 tion, and in the investigations of the past and present extent of the 

 fisheries it has always been the aim to bring out these points. In the 

 consideration of the economic resources of the fishing-grounds, of the 

 movements and abundance of food-fishes and other aquatic products, 

 and of other subjects connected with the objects of commercial fish- 

 eries, the division approaches the limits of the Division of Scientific 

 Inquiry, but rather supplements than encroaches upon the functions of 

 that branch of the Commission's work. 



