2* EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The same system of subdivision of duty on the part of the personnel of 

 the Commission has been continued as in i)revious years. The general 

 subject of tlie proi)agation of food-fishes has been mainly in charge of 

 Mr. James W. Miluer, the Assistant Commissioner, while that of inquiry 

 into the statistics of the fisheries has been prosecuted with the especial 

 assistance of Mr. G. Brown Goode, curator of the National Museimi. 

 This gentleman, in addition to the statistical inquiry, has also had charge 

 of the field-work connected with the vertebrates. Prof. A. E. Verrill, 

 with his staff, has supervised the explorations and investigations con- 

 nected with the marine invertebrates, and Professor Faiiow those rela- 

 tive to the useful sea-plants. The special assistants in these various 

 divisions will be hereafter mentioned. 



B— INQUIRY INTO THE HISTORY AND STATISTICS OF THE 



FOOD-FISHES. 



2. — OPEEATIONS DURING THE SUJOIER OF 1877. 



It has been my x)leasant duty, in all the i:)receding volumes of this 

 series of reports, to acknowledge the hearty responses of the vaiious 

 departments of the government to that portion of the law organizing 

 the United States Fish Commission which directs them to render to it 

 such aid as lies in their power, all whose assistance has been invoked 

 acting upon the spirit of the law, and without restriction to its mere 

 letter. The Treasury, the War, and tlie Interior Departments all require 

 especial mention in this connection. The co-operation of the Navy De- 

 partment has been of the greatest importance by lending certain vessels 

 not required at the time for the regular purposes of the department. 

 These consisted of a smaU steam-launch in 1871, and the steam-tug Blue 

 Light, a vessel of about 100 tons, in 1873, 1874, and 1875. No caU was 

 made upon the department in 1870, as no field parties Avere out during 

 the summer of that year, my presence and that of my assistants being 

 required in connection with the exhibits of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 the National Museum, and the United States Fish Commission at tlie 

 International Exhibition in Philadelphia. For the season of 1877, how- 

 ever, the assistance of Secretary Thompson, of the Navy, was invoked, 

 and a larger vessel than the Blue Light was detailed by him for duty 

 with the Commission. This was the steam-tug Speedwell, an iron pro- 

 peller of 306 tons, with a powerful engine, and well adapted to her work. 

 She was put in thorough order at the Portsmouth na\^^-yard, and re- 

 ported for duty at Salem on the 31st of July. Slie had previously left 

 Portsmouth, on the 20th of July, for New London, for the purpose of 

 taking on board the stores of the Blue Light, the vessel previously em- 

 ployed, and of having the hoisting-engine of the latter transferred to 

 her own deck. She also stopped at Wood's Holl, July 2G, to take on 

 board the other equipments and articles necessary for her service. The 

 steamer was placed by the Secretary in charge of Lieutenant-Commander 



