KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 197 



I have iudiL'ated, to make tlio work complote, wliicli is not only aa important auxil- 

 iary in our statistical iufpiiry, Imt has the additional merit of being inexpensive. 

 Yours, very respectfully, 



M. McDonald, 



Commissioner. 



[The Secretary of the Treasury to the Cnmiuissioiicr of Fisli ami Fisbericn.] 



WAsiiixtriox, D. (!., Octolnr a, 1S90. 



Siu: Your letter of the 18tli of /Vugust last, r(^latill'4■ to tiie statistics of the 

 fisheries, was lirou<>ht to my attention on my return recently to the De])artment. 



It ai)pears that collectors of customs in certain customs districts are disinclined to 

 obtain the statistics you desire. The Department understands that when the subject 

 of obtaining statistics through the offices of collectors of customs was first considered 

 there was an intention of obtaining Congressional action in regard to the matter, 

 and that the work to be performed by the customs officers in ascertaining and for- 

 warding the information was to be temporary only. This was in the year 1886. It 

 now ajjpears from your communication that the statistics obtained are defective, 

 owing to neglect on the part of the customs officers, and it has been stated to the 

 Department that statistics Somewhat similar are being gathered by the Census 

 Bureau. 



In the absence of any special appropriation for the purpose, or authority of law, it 

 seems to me inexpedient to attempt further to collecit the statistics through the 

 officers of the customs. 



The supply of blanks prepared by this Department is exhausted. 

 Respectfully, yours, 



W. WiNDOM, 



Secretary. 



Special information and .statistics furnished. — The division is called 

 upou to furiiisli to private parties, State ofiicials, Congress, and tlie 

 Executive Departments descriptive and tabnlar matter on various 

 special subjects counected witli the fisheries, which in the course of a 

 year often constitutes a prominent feature of the work. While much 

 of the information requested is already available and is readily fur- 

 nished, some of the inquiries occasion protracted research, and may 

 occupy the attention of the office force for a considerable time. An 

 idea of the nature of the calls made on the division may be gained 

 from the following- partial list of data prepared for Government and 

 State officials in the years 1890 and ISOl: 



An opini(m relative to the effect on the abundance of fish in this country of the 

 unrestricted use of pound nets, traps, purse seines, and gill nets. 



Statistical and descriptive data covering the sponge fishery of Florida. 



Statistics and observations n^garding the salt-clam bait used by British pro- 

 vincial fishermen. 



Summary statement of i»ersons employed in the fisheries of Barnstable County, 

 Mass., in 1880. 



Detailed table giving the capi1,al invested in vessels, boats, apparatus, etc., in 

 Barnstable County, Mass., in 1889. 



Statement of the ((uantities and values of each fishery product taken in the fish- 

 eries of Barnstable County, Mass., in 1889. 



