14 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



timely. Special attention was directed to the lobster fishery, whose 

 successful continuance has been seriously imperiled by overfishing. 

 At the close of the year this investigation was well under way. 



Early in the fiscal year an investigation of the fishing industry of 

 the Pacific States was begun by Mr. W. A. Wilcox, who had made a 

 similar canvass in 1889. Personal visits were made to all fishing cen 

 ters on the coast and the coast streams, and very valuable data were 

 secured for each of the years intervening since the last canvass. Espe 

 cially useful statistics regarding the salmon industry were obtained. 

 Although Alaska was not visited, complete statistical information 

 covering the fisheries of that territory were obtained from the firms 

 engaged, all of whom have headquarters in San Francisco or other 

 cities of that coast. In San Fi-ancisco and vicinity Mr. Wilcox was 

 assisted by Mr. A. B. Alexander, fishery expert on the Albatross, who 

 was temi)orarily detached from the vessel for that purpose. The inquiry 

 closed in May, 1893. An account of this work and its results is given 

 in the report of the assistant, and Mr. Wilcox's full report will be found 

 among the appendices to this report. 



In connection with the work of the International Fisheries Commis- 

 sion, Dr. Smith, at the request of the United States commissioner, 

 Mr. Rathbun, during June, 1893, accomi^anied the commission to 

 Boston, Woods Hole, Provincetown, and other New England fishing 

 centers. 



The report for this division contains a brief synopsis of the papers, 

 based on the division's field inquiries, issued during the year. These 

 included statistical and descriptive articles on the fisheries of the 

 New England States, the South Atlantic States, the Gulf States, and 

 of Lake Ontario. The report concludes with notes on some of the 

 more important fisheries, and on certain branches i)ossessing special 

 interest. 



DIVISION OF FISH-CULTURE. 



The continued growth of the Commission rendered it necessary that 

 the Commissioner should relieve himself of the direct supervision of the 

 details of this division, the charge of which he had assumed upon his 

 appointment as Commissioner. On July G, 1892, he therefore appointed 

 as the assistant in charge Dr. Tarleton II. Bean, the ichthyologist of 

 the Commission. Dr. Bean assumed charge of the division and retained 

 its immediate direction till the beginning of the following January, 

 when his appointment as representative of the Commission on the Gov- 

 ernment Board of Management and Control of the World's Columbian 

 Ex])Osition, Chicago, necessitated his being relieved of other duty. Mr. 

 S. G. Worth, the superintendent of Central Station, was then detailed 

 as acting assistant in charge of the division, the duties of which posi- 

 tion he performed Avith fidelity and skill for the remainder of the year 

 covered by this report. 



