XII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the United States. An earnest, patient, and able investigator, he very 

 soon made himself familiar with the history of fish culture in general 

 and the application of the various forms of fish-hatching apparatus to 

 the needs of the Commission. Some very important modifications of 

 machinery were due to his ingenuity, and, had he lived, it is safe 

 to assume that he would have made a very distinguished record in his 

 favorite science. 



Mr. Milner's illness, in his own opinion, was first caused by exposure 

 while superintending the work of hatching shad at Avoca, N. C, in the 

 spring of 1878, and afterwards on the Susquehanna. He returned to 

 Washington, where he remained several months during the summer, 

 and then went back for a time to his residence in Waukegan, 111. 



After it had been determined to commence the work of hatching cod- 

 fish at Gloucester in the winter of 187S-1S79, Mr. Milner came to that 

 station just prior to the breaking up of the summer party, and super- 

 intended the beginning of the work. Continuing to grow worse, he was 

 ordered by his physician to Washington; and after remaining there for 

 a few months he went to Florida where he staid during the winter and 

 the early spring. Here he was able to spend a good deal of time in the 

 open air, and to make a number of collections for the National Museum. 

 Eeturning to Waukegan somewhat too soon, he took fresh cold, and, 

 after a time, was directed to spend the summer in tbe high mountain 

 region of Colorado. Not much benefit resulted from this experiment, 

 and in the autumn of 1879 he again returned to Waukegan, and lingered 

 there for several months until his death on the date mentioned. 



As explained in previous reports, the work of the Commission falls 

 naturally under two distinct heads: First, the investigation into the 

 condition of the fisheries of the United States; their statistics: manner 

 of prosecution: and how the service can be improved further, in the 

 methods of capture, preparation, and preservation, or the increase in 

 abundance. Secondly, the actual increase of the supply by artificial 

 propagation and transfer to new localities or their multiplication in 

 those in which an original abundance had become greatly reduced. 



The first division of the work, as heretofore, has been, for the most 

 part, conducted by Mr. G. Brown Goode, assisted by Dr. T. H. Bean. 



The collection and determination of the marine invertebrates has 

 been in charge of Prof. A. E. Verrill, with assistants to be mentioned 

 hereafter. 



In the illness and necessary absence of Mr. Milner I was very fortu- 

 nate in being able to secure the co-operation of Mr. T. B. Ferguson, the 

 Maryland commissioner of fisheries, of whose services, both to the cause 

 of fish culture in general and the United States Fish Commission in 

 particular, I have repeatedly made mention. 



Of the several permanent stations of the Commission, the carp ponds 

 have been as before under the charge of Mr. B. Hessel; the California 

 salmon hatchery, under that of Mr. Livingston Stone; and those of the 



