CONTENTS 



I.-EEPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 



A.-GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



Page. 



1. iNTEODUCTOKT REMARKS xvii 



Scope and sequence of tlie present report xvii 



Recent expansion of operations xvii 



Educational seiTices of the Commission xvii 



Demand for specimens collected xviii 



Noteworthy features of the year xviii 



(1) Appropriation to complete the Albatross xviii 



(2) Changes in command of Albatross and Fish Hawk xviii 



(3) Purchase of a Herreshoff launch xviii 



(4) Acquisition of land at "Wood's HoU, and relinquishment of jurisdiction over the 



same by the State of Massachusetts to the United States xviii 



(5) Appropriation for a pier at Wood's HoU xviii 



(6) Fitting up of Armory Station and introduction of railroad tracks within the in- 



closure xviii 



(7) Appropriation for London Fishery Exhibition, and giving charge of American 



representation to the United States Fish Commission xviii 



(8) Proposition for a flshway at the Great Falls of the Potomac xviii 



(9) Acquisition of a station for rearing California trout at "Wytheville, Va xviii 



(10) Transfer of Saint Jerome station to the United States Fish Commission xviii 



(11) Commencement of the work of oyster propagation at Saint Jerome xviii 



(12) Practical completion of the fishery census work of 1880 xviii 



(13) Order of Congress for printing a report on the American fish and fisheries xis 



(14) Great expansion of the carp distribution xix 



(15) The practical extermination of the tile fish in the North Atlantic xis 



"Work yet to be accomplished by the Commission xix 



(1) Completing the knowledge of the habits of the useful fishes and other aquatic 



animals and their proper identification, the coUe-cting of specimens on a large 



scale, and their distribution to colleges and academies xix 



(2) The improvement of the methods of capture xix 



Great aid rendered in the past by the introduction of the cod gill-net xix 



Treatment of nets to prevent their rotting xx 



(3) Improvement in fishing vessels xx 



(4) Survey of old fishing grounds and the discovery of new ones xx 



Field for discovery along the coasts of the South Atlantic and the Gulf 



States XX 



(5) Improved methods of preparing and curing fish xx 



Progress since the Centennial xxi 



(6) Stocking and restocking the waters with fish only begun xxi 



General conditions involved xxi 



Healthy public sentiment and suitable legislation brought about for pro- 

 tection of the fisheries xxi 



Fishes of special promise and importance xxii 



The oyster requiring special attention xxii 



Correspondence of 1882 xxiii 



Convenience of the new offices xxiii 



Casualties among assistants and correspondents xxiii 



Death of Mr. H.E.Rockwell xxMi 



Death of Mr. B. B. Redding xxiii 



V 



