27 



«' 3- The introduction and multiplication of useful food-fishes 

 throughout the country, especially in waters under the jurisdiction 

 of the general government, or those common to several states, 

 none of which might feel willing to make expenditures for the 

 benefit of the others. This work, which was not contemplated 

 when the Commission was established, was first undertaken at the 

 instance of the American Fish Cultural Association, whose repre- 

 sentatives induced Congress to make a special appropriation for 

 the purpose. This appropriation has since been renewed every 

 year on an increasingly bountiful scale, and the propagation of 

 fish is at present by far the most extensive branch of the work of 

 the Commission, both in respect to number of men employed and 

 quantity of money expended." 



In arranging the corals collected by Mr. Saunders, the 

 similarity of most of them to those of the Mediterranean 

 attracted my attention, and it occurred to me that the red 

 and pink corals, if searched for, might possibly be dis- 

 covered. I have mentioned the matter since to several 

 eminent men, competent to form a judgment, and all 

 favour it. I will here only quote what Professor Gunther, 

 of the Natural History Museum at South Kensington, 

 said to me :— " You are quite right; I think you will find 

 the red corals in the Bahamas. My experience is that 

 whenever a marine product is found in the Mediterranean, 

 it is invariably followed by a similar find in the Japanese 

 and Bahamas waters." Coral has lately been found in 

 Japan, and I say search for it in the Bahamas. 



" Where the coral worms in countless nations 

 Build rocks up from the seas' foundations." 



I strongly recommend that your fishermen should be 

 encouraged to search. The dredger used is most simple 

 in construction, and easily made. 



