REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 



A.— GENERAL COXSIDEKATIOXS. 



1.— INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



The present report is intended to furnish an account, in compliance 

 with law, of the operations of the United States Fish Commission dur- 

 ing the year 1879, and for some of the branches of the work during the 

 early portion of 1SS0. This continuation applies especially to the prop- 

 agation of the eastern salmon, the land-locked salmon, the whiteflsh, and 

 the cod. 



The continued increase in the extent of the field of labor, referred to 

 in previous reports, manifested itself also in 1879, as new subjects of 

 inquiry presented themselves and increased the demands for service in 

 the propagation and distribution of food-fishes. The appreciation of 

 the work by Congress is shown by the increase in the amount of the 

 appropriations, all of which, it is hoped, have been expended with due 

 economy and consideration. 



The machinery of the Commission, and especially its personnel, con- 

 tinues to be very limited, so that as much of the appropriation as prac- 

 ticable is used for the direct objects of the Commission. 



The most noted features in the history of the Commission for the year 

 are : First, the commencement of the distribution of young carp to 

 various points in the United States ; and, secondly, the authorization 

 by Congress of the construction of a special steam-vessel to serve as a 

 floating station for the hatching of shad and other useful food-fishes. 

 More particular allusion to this will be made under the appropriate 

 heading. 



A pleasant experience of the year was the visit of The President and 

 Cabinet to the Havre de Grace shad-hatching station on the 7th of 

 June. 



It is with very great regret that I chronicle the death, on the 6th of 

 January, 1880, of Mr. James W. Milner, who has been connected with 

 the Fish Commission as its principal assistant almost since its first in- 

 ception in 1871. In that year he was detailed to make an investigation 

 of the fisheries of the lake region, the results of which were published 

 in the annual reports of the Commission. From that time he had par- 

 ticular charge of the field work connected with the propagation of the 

 shad, and their transfer, and that of other species, to various parts of 



(si) 



