REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. *1 7 



tho most important, and I therefore have given several articles on tliis 

 subject. Tlie liist of tlieso is a translation, ilhistratinji^ the gencr.il 

 character ot tliose islands, tlieir physical features, and tlieir natural liis- 

 tory. This is followed by the report of Professor Sara of his iibi^l'vations 

 during- the years li)(54_to 1877, inclusive, upon the fisheries of the Lotfoden 

 Islands, this containintt' by I'ar the t^r eatest body of informa tion ever pub- 

 lished in reji'ard to the luibits and natujt'al history of tlic cod, and its rela- 

 tions to the lishernu'n and fisheries. It is a storehouse of inforuiation of 

 the most important character, and upon its revelations have been based 

 many of the ])lans of the United States Fish Commission in regard to 

 the artificial pro])agation of that species. 



An article on the general sea-fisheries of Norway, their metliods, re- 

 sults, &c., as practiced in 1877, also forms a portion of the Appendix. 

 The original of this pamphlet was distributed at the Paris Exposition as 

 a companion to the fisheries display made by Norway on that occasion. 



An article on the geograjihical distribution of the Ga<lkl(e or codfish 

 family, from the German of Dambeck, is also given in the Api)endix. 

 This, being mainly a compilation from published records, has man}' 

 errors, some of which have been corrected; others of less moment have 

 been allowed to pass unchallenged. It gives, however, a very readable 

 and interesting history of the distribution of the cod and its various 

 allied species throughout the various portions of the globe. 



The article upon the history of the first five years of the Emden Joint 

 Stock Herring Fishery Association, by Dantziug, contains jnany impor- 

 tant suggestions, which may profitablj^ be borne in mind by American 

 companies organized for a similar i^urpose. Numerous mistakes m/ide 

 by this association in its early operations, and acknowledged as such in 

 the article, may readily be avoided after being pointed out. 



A paper on the sea-fisheries of a portion of Sweden, by von Yhlen, is 

 also instructive. These fisheries are less important than those of Nor- 

 way, and, while possessing similar characteristics, also have diversities 

 which may be noted by American fishermen to advantage. 



In the Appendix also wiU be found details of a series of experiments 

 made " bj'^ Commander Beardslee upon the time of exposure needed for 

 correct observations by the Casella-Miller thermometer. I have abeady 

 explained in previous reports the importance of indications of the temper- 

 ature of the water at various depths from the surface and the bottom, as 

 illustrating the variations in the appearance of different food-fishes along 

 the coast. It is well established that the movements of the herring, cod, 

 mackerel, and other fishes have a direct relationshij) to the question of 

 the temperature, and that the occurrence of these fish may, in many 

 cases, be readily anticipated and proper arrangements made for them 

 by studying indications of the thermometer for a considerable time pre- 

 vious. It is therefore of importance to know the method of treatment of 

 the thermometer used in this work ; and the experiments of Commander 

 Beardslee have given us the means of making a proper and very neces- 

 sary allowance for instrumental errors. 



