REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 7 



Alaska. The Alaskan survey, the preparations for which were de- 

 scribed in my hxst report, was specially authorized by Congress and 

 was executed during the summer of 1880, the Avork being in charge of 

 Dr. Tarleton H. Beau, the ichthyologist of the Commission. The objects 

 of the inquiry were to study the natural history of the salmon and the 

 physical characteristics of their environment, to obtain informatioli 

 regarding the methods, statistics, and conditions of the fishery, and to 

 ascertain the necessities and advantages of Alaskan waters for the 

 artificial propagation of these sx^ecies. Owing to the difficulties in the 

 way of reaching their working grounds, the j)arty did not arrive at 

 Kadiak until the last of July, and was thereby prevented from extend- 

 ing its observations beyond that island and Afognak. Considering, how- 

 ever, that Karluk Eiver, on Kadiak Island, furnished at that time about 

 one-half the entire yield of the territory in canned salmon, and that 

 ample opportunities were afforded there for making i\, very thorough 

 study of the subject, the expedition was entirely successful in its mission. 

 The results were reported to Congress during the winter of 1889-90, 

 and in that connection the Commissioner recommended that action 

 be taken to prohibit obstructions impeding or preventing the ascent of 

 salmon in the Alaskan rivers to tlieir spawning-grounds and to pre- 

 vent destructive methods of fishing, or that a system of leasing fishery 

 privileges under fixed regulations be inaugurated. It was also sug- 

 gested that additional legislation might provide for an increased pro- 

 duction of salmon by fish-cultural methods, thus avoiding the enormous 

 waste of eggs and young fish under their natural conditions, and re- 

 pairing to some extent the injury caused by overfishing. 



In the majority of the other inland investigations the Commissioner 

 has had the advice and cooperation of Dr. David S. Jordan, president 

 of the Indiana University, who has also participated personally in the 

 explorations of Colorado, Utah, and the Yellowstone National Park 

 during the summer of 1889. During the next summer Prof. S. A. Forbes, 

 director of the laboratory of natural history of the State of Illinois, and 

 Prof. Edwin Linton, of Washington and Jefferson College, Pennsyl- 

 vania, undertook for the Fish Commission a very detailed investigation 

 of the invertebrate fauna of the Yellowstone National Park from the 

 standpoint of the natural food supply for fishes. It was considered 

 that the planting of fishes in this region would be largely dependent 

 for its success upon the abundance of these lower organisms, and it is 

 very gratifying to be able to announce that the observations in this 

 respect were attended with entirely satisfactory results. 



