16 



EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



As bearing on the international question of the dependence of 

 American fishermen upon the grounds lying off Newfoundland and 

 the British maritime provinces, the following table is of unusual 

 interest. About three-fourths of the total catch is shown to have 

 been taken from grounds off the United States coast. 



Quantity and Value of Fish Landed by American Fishing Vessels at Bos- 

 ton AND Gloucester, Mass., in 1907 from Grounds Off the Coasts of the 

 United States and of Newfoundland and other British Provinces. 



ADMINISTRATION. 



NEW STATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 



Numerous bills for the establishment of fish-cultural stations were 

 introduced in Congress at its last session and referred to the Depart- 

 ment for recommendation, and owing to the growing need for addi- 

 tional hatcheries it was possible to make a favorable report in nearly 

 every case. Only a single hatchery bill became a law, however, and 

 this provided for a station for mussel culture in the Mississippi 

 Valley. 



The new salmon hatchery on Afognak Island, Alaska, has been 

 nearly completed and will be ready for operation the present season. 

 The hatchery building, similar in construction and capacity to the 

 Yes Lake hatchery, is commodious and convenient, and the station 

 is provided with comfortable quarters for the employees. 



In addition to the usual necessary repairs, there have been exten- 

 sive improvements at some of the stations during the year, consisting 

 variously of buildings or ponds to increase the hatchery capacity, the 

 purchase of additional land, the alteration of water supply, and dif- 

 ferent kinds of construction work. An addition to the Boothbay, 

 Me., hatchery that will greatly promote the efficiency of the lobster 



