12 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Tlie destructive methods followed in the ca])ture of fish and shellfish 

 in the territorial and contiguous waters of the United States and the 

 British Possessions in North America, as also in the open seas outside 

 of the territorial limits of either country, but which are resorted to for 

 the pur])0se of fishing by their respectiv^e inhabitants, as well as the 

 polluting and obstructing of such contiguous waters, to the detriment of 

 their fisheries, have long been matters which have invited the attention 

 of the respective (Tovernments; and the necessity of uniform mutual 

 laws regulating the prosecution of the fisheries, as also the adoption of 

 methods for the replenishing of depleted Avaters, have equally been felt 

 to be necessary if the fisheries were to be maintained. An agreement 

 was reached by the two Governments on December G, 1892, which pro- 

 vided for the appointment of a joint commission of two experts, one 

 on behalf of each government, to consider and report ui^on the whole 

 question. As representative on the i)art of Great Britain, Dr. Wil- 

 liam Wakeham, of the department of marine and fisheries of Canada, 

 was appointed, and on the part of the United States JNIr. Eichard 

 Eathbun, of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, The 

 two commissioners had their first meeting at Washington, on March 2, 

 1893. For the general scope of the inquiry to be prosecuted, reference 

 is made to Mr. Eathbun's report. 



During the spring and summer of 1893 investigations were conducted 

 to learn what, if any, benefits had resulted from the series of close sea- 

 sons in the spring mackerel fishery, provided by tlie aet of Congress 

 passed in 18SG, the information also being needed by the Joint Fishery 

 Commission. The schooner Grampus attended the fishing fleet on the 

 southern fishing-grounds and thence to those off Nova Scotia. Many 

 valuable observations were made, and much important information 

 secured bearing upon the fishery. As the data of several seasons are 

 necessary before any reasonable conclusions on the subject can be 

 reached the consideration thereof is deferred. Other incidental inves- 

 tigations conducted by the division are shown in the report of Mr. 

 Eathbun. 



DIVISION OF STATISTICS AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



During the year the administration of the affairs of this division 

 devolved upon Dr. Hugh M. Smith, and reference is made to his ap- 

 pended report for a resume of the work accomplished. Capt. J. W. 

 Collins, the assistant in charge, retained the general direction of the 

 work of the division up to September 2(), 1892, and on December 27 of 

 the same year he resigned from the Commission. 



The work of the Division of Statistics and Methods of the Fisheries 

 has continued of the same general character referred to in my previ- 

 ous reports. The scope of tlie operations is, however, be(;oming more 

 extended and valuable year by year, and the practical usefulness of 

 the division is annually becoming more evident. 



