24* REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



teution on the part of tbo United States Fish Commission, up to date, 

 are the sea salmon of the Atlantic, 8a Imo sa lar ; the sea salmon of the west- 

 ern coast, 8. quinnat; the land-locked salmon, a local race of the 8almo 

 salar ; the whitefish, Core//ow«s a/&«s; the shad, J.Zosa sa^irfmMWrt ; the 

 fi'esh-water herring, Pomolohus vernal is and wstivalis; and the German 

 carp, Cyprinns carpio. It is intended, however, to devote more or less 

 attention to the cultivation of the smelt, especially the very large, land- 

 locked form found in certain waters in Maine. At no distant day it is 

 hoped that specimens of the Oriental Gourami, a fresh-water iish with 

 many valuable pecuharities, will be added to the list. 



It is also proposed to take some measures to introduce the California 

 brook trout to the Atlantic slope, on the ground that this fish will resist 

 successfully a higher temperature of water than the Eastern trout ; and 

 although of no great comparative economical value, yet it will furnish 

 to the citizens of the more southern States of the Union a pleasant sport 

 in their capture. The instinct of mankind appears to be to catch fish 

 under all circumstances and conditions, and the introduction of a brook 

 trout into the warmer waters of the United States will be a very popular 

 move. 



11. — FACILITIES AND ASSISTANCE RENDERED. 



The prompt and hearty compliance with the requirement of the law 

 of Congress, directing the various departments of the government to 

 render such aid as might be in their power to the service of the United 

 States Fish Commission, has been a subject of great gratification, refer- 

 ence to such aid being made in various portions of the present report. 



As already stated, the Navy Department furnished the iron steam- 

 tug Speedwell, with a full equipment of officers and crew for summer 

 ser\dce olf Salem and Halifax. As will be seen by Mr. Stone's report, 

 at one time during the operations at the McCloud River hatching- 

 station. General McDowell, commanding the Department of the Pacific, 

 furnished a detail of one officer and four men for the jirotection of the 

 fishery against threatened violence. The co-oj)eration of State fish com- 

 missions has been mentioned. 



I am gratified in being able to say that there lias, so far, been mani- 

 fested no jealousy in regard to the United States Fish Commission, but 

 that everything has been done to strengthen the liands of the Commis- 

 sioner and to enable him to do efficient work. 



Very important aid has been rendered by railroad companies in the 

 transijortation of eggs and fish to various parts of the country, there 

 being scarcely an exception to the willingness to grant the facilities 

 asked for in the accomiianying circular. Among the earliest companies 

 to extend this aid were the Baltimore and Ohio, the Philadelphia, Wil- 

 mington and Baltimore, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Companies. 

 During the year 1877, similar authority was received from forty-two com- 



