REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 19 



INQUIRY RESPECTING FOOD-FISHES AND THE FISHING 



GROUNDS. 



Attention is directed to the appended detailed report on the work of 

 the division of inquiry respecting" food-lishes and the fishino'-grounds. 

 This important branch of the Bureau deals with the biological ques- 

 tions Vvhich arise in connection with the economic fishenes and fish 

 culture. It is particularly concerned with the exploration of lakes, 

 streams, and salt waters; the study of the habits, growth, and distribu- 

 tion of fishes and other aquatic animals; the experimental cultivation 

 of desirable products not now the objects of cultivation, with a view 

 to developing methods that may be applied on a wholesale basis; the 

 investigation of the diseases of fishes under cultivation and in a wild 

 state, tlje pollution of waters in its effect on fish life, and the encour- 

 agement of biological research in the Bureau's laboratories and field 

 operations. 



The special commission for the investigation of the salmon fisheries 

 of Alaska, to which reference was made in the last report of the 

 Bureau, concluded its labors in the fall of 1903, and shortly thereafter 

 a preliminary report was submitted, embodying the general results of 

 the investigation and making recommendations for the protection and 

 promotion of the fisheries. This report was forwarded to the Sec- 

 retary^ November 13, 1903, by him presented to the President on 

 Januaiy 21, 1904, and by the President transumitted to Congress on Jan- 

 uary 27, 1901, and printed as House Document No. 177, Fif t3--eighth 

 Congress, second session. The most important recommendations of 

 the special commission are the establishment of government salmon 

 hatcheries under the control of the Bureau of Fisheries, and the placing" 

 of all matters relating to the fisheries of Alaska under the direction of 

 the Bureau. 



Among the numerous special subjects which have been under con- 

 sidei^tion with reference to economic questions are the oyster, sponges, 

 blue crab, diamond-back terrapin, green turtle, and various fishes. 

 The experiments in the artificial fattening of 03'sters and the cultiva- 

 tion of sponges from cuttings have continued with satisfactory results. 

 The raising of the di^iniond-back terrapin and the green turtle from the 

 egg is receiving attention at points in Chesapeake Bay and on the 

 coast of Florida, States in which inquiries have been made as to the 

 fishery' resources of particular waters are Maine, North Carolina, 

 Indiana, California, and Arizona. 



STATISTICS AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



The work of the division of statistics and methods of the fisheries 

 affords the only basis for determining the condition and trend of the 

 commercial fisheries of the country; it is an invaluable criterion of the 



