XXXII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The Engineer Bureau ordered a board to inspect the boiler of the Look- 

 out and to determine the question of repairs necessary to put it in proper 

 commission. 



The Bureau of Construction placed at the disposition of the Com- 

 mission two serviceable steam launches (Nos. 49 and 55) for the work of 

 the shad season of 1882. 



The Bureau of Equipment furnished a number of articles for the 

 equipment of the Albatross. 



The Bureau of Navigation met all the applications of the Commission 

 for detail of officers in the most cordial spirit, making selections with 

 special reference to the duties to be performed. 



The Bureau of Ordnance issued a breech-loading gun to the Albatross, 

 and also a number of obsolete powder tanks to be used in making col- 

 lections of natural history. 



The Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds. — Col. 

 A. F. Eockwell, the Commissioner, authorized the inclosure of the 

 Armory grounds by a fence, for the better protection of the property of 

 the Commission, and also permitted the construction of a large shed for 

 the storage of packages that could not be conveniently accommodated 

 within the armory. 



The Railroads of the United States. — The various railroads 

 throughout the country have continued to assist in the work of the Com- 

 mission with the same liberality as before. They have continued their 

 agreement with the Commission to transport fish in the baggage cars of 

 passenger trains without extra charge, allowing the messengers free ac- 

 cess to them, as shown by the accompanying list. This privilege has 

 not been of so much importance as in previous years, owing to the much 

 more extended adoption of the system of forwarding the fish either in 

 the transporting cars of the Commission or in those chartered for 

 special trips. 



As explained in earlier reports, a special rate has been adopted by 

 most of the roads for this service; this, for the most part, being 20 

 cents a mile for the transportation of the car on passenger trains, to 

 include the fares of five messengers — any number above this paying the 

 regular passenger fare. This arrangement, first established through 

 the assistance of President Hinckley, of the Philadelphia, Wilmington 

 and Baltimore Kailroad, on his own road, and next extended to the Penn- 

 sylvania and the Baltimore and Ohio roads, has since become almost 

 universal throughout the country; so much so, indeed, that very little 

 difficulty is experienced in sending the car in any desired direction. In 

 some cases, even, the car is carried without any charge whatever for 

 transportation and messengers, or else at rates below that of 20 cents per 

 mile. In a few cases the charges have been greater than 20 cents; but 

 in nearly every instance there has been an important reduction. 



The acknowledgments of the Commission are most esi)ecially due for 



