
AP Pie ND: 
The foregoing paper having been prepared for use in presenting the case of the 
United States before the Halifax Commission, it seems desirable to append the testi- 
mony of the author as given before that Commission on October 18 and 19, 1877. 
[Extracted from ‘‘ Documents and Proceedings of the Halifax Commission, 1877, under the treaty of 
Washington of May 8, 1871,” pp. 2795-2816 and 2821-2849. ] 
Prof. SPENCER F, BarrD, assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Wash- 
ington, and United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, called on behalf of 
the Government of the United States, sworn, and examined. 
By Mr. Dana: 
Question. It is not necessary, of course, to ask this witness any questions to show 
his position or general acquaintance with and knowledge of the subject. I would 
like, however, to have you state, if you please, as I am going to give, by and by, some 
of the results of your inquiries—I would like to have you state particularly how you 
have obtained, and from what sources you have obtained, information respecting the 
fisheries of late, besides what you have studied in books.—Answer. I have been in 
the habit for five years past of spending from two to three months on the sea-coast 
for the purpose of prosecuting inquiries into the condition of the fisheries, to deter- 
mine whether, as alleged, the American coast fisheries have been decreasing, and to 
ascertain what steps, if any, might be adopted to remedy the difficulty, if found. I 
have, in pursuance of that work, established stations in successive years at Eastport, 
Portland, Salem, Wood’s Holl, on the south coast of New England, and at Noank. 
And I have had with me a force of experts, naturalists, and gentlemen interested in 
the biology of fishes, and have endeavored to gather such information as I couldfrom 
my own personal observation and that of my colleagues, as well as by inquiries from 
fishermen and others whom I. have met. 
Q. How far have you prosecuted that personal inquiry of the fishermen and persons 
engaged in the fisheries ?—A. I have, by the help of a phonographic secretary, taken 
the testimony of many hundreds of fishermen along the coast in reference principally 
to questions in the natural history of fishes. The facts as to the statistics of the fish- 
eries have come out incidentally, and were not the original object of my inquiry. I 
was interested more in determining what kinds of fish we had, what natural, phys- 
ical, or moral causes influenced them, and what would probably be the result of these 
causes, and how any evil influences could be remedied. 
Q. Then have you employed fishermen to examine and make inquiries 7—A. Ihave 
had in my employ several men, some for the whole year, or several years in succes- 
sion, and others for a part of the year, who have taken a series of printed questions 
that I prepared in regard to the natural history of fishes, and pursued these inquiries 
in regions where I myself could not go conveniently, especially in the winter season 
or in the early spring. 
. Q. Then you issued some printed circulars 7—A, Yes ; a great many thousand blanks, 
inviting responses, and Ihave had a reasonable percentage of returns, of which I 
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