EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XLI 



■with contour lines 1 foot apart over the entire surface of the greater 

 part of Bar Neck. A reduced map of this, but somewhat extended in 

 area, was made without contours, on a scale of 50 feet to the inch, cor- 

 responding in this respect to the scale of the hydrographic survey of 

 the adjacent shores made by General Warren in 1881. 



11. — CONGRESSIONAL ACTION IN REGARD TO THE WOOD'S HOLL STA- 

 TION. 



As explained heretofore, the carrying out of the extended plan for 

 using Wood's Holl for a great central station for hatching sea fishes, 

 such as cod, halibut, etc., depends upon an appropriation in the river 

 and harbor bill for the construction of a harbor of refuge in the great 

 harbor of Wood's Holl, to consist of a hollow pier, serving first to cover 

 up and mask a reef of dangerous rocks ; secondly, to protect the upper 

 portion of the great harbor, and thus permit vessels of 20 feet draft 

 to come in and remain in perfect safety in severe storms ; and, thirdly, 

 to furnish the basins for keeping the live fish. 



The subject of an appropriation for a harbor of refuge was brought 

 before the River and Harbor Committee of the House, and all the ar- 

 guments in favor of the proposition were duly presented and sustained 

 by Representatives Candler and Crapo, of Massachusetts, and other 

 gentlemen interested in the commercial aspect of the plan. The signa- 

 tures of business firms and insurance companies representing a capital 

 of between one and two hundred millions of dollars, together with those 

 of masters of many coastwise vessels, were obtained by Mr. John M. 

 Gliddon, and brought before the committee in support of the measure, 

 and, largely through the intervention of the gentlemen mentioned, es- 

 pecially of Mr. Candler, who was a member of the committee, an appro- 

 priation of $52,000 was obtained. 



The magnitude of the amount approijriated by the river and harbor 

 bill induced the President to defer action upon any new items in it until 

 the subject could be recommitted to Congress for its consideration, work 

 already under way alone receiving attention during the year. This, of 

 course, was a very unwelcome interruption to the general labors of the 

 Commission and retarded the completion of the plan for one year. It is 

 hoped, however, that the embargo on the expenditure for Wood's Holl 

 will be raised during the year, and that the work will be completed in 

 1883-'84. 



No new development has occurred in connection with the acquisition 

 of land for the purposes of the Commission. The subscriptions made by 

 the various parties referred to in the report for 1881 were available only 

 in the event of an appropriation by the Government for the collateral 

 objects, and this being deferred everything has been held in abeyance 

 during the year. 



