REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP FISHERIES. 17 



work is a large pound or inclosure in which brood lobsters to the 

 number of many thousands may be retained pending the taking of 

 the eggs. 



LIBRARY AND PUBLICATIONS. 



The library of the Bureau, which is strictly technical, has been 

 increased during the past year by 174 bound volumes and 158 un- 

 bound books and separates, these being purchases and donations 

 some of which were assigned to the branch libraries at the biological 

 laboratories and fish-cultural stations. A revision of the catalogue 

 is in progress, and the usefulness of the library has been increased 

 also by the provision of a reference index and a system of interloan- 

 ing with other technical libraries. 



The Bureau published 16 pamphlet documents in 1908, these papers 

 dealing respectively with various subjects in the different fields of 

 work and being in some cases exhaustive in scope and treatment. 

 Four extracts from the revised edition of the Manual of Fish Culture, 

 published in 1900, were reprinted. 



In accordance with the plan adopted several years ago, the Bureau's 

 publications are now supplied to the public only in pamphlet form, 

 this being deemed a more economical and satisfactory method than 

 the former issue consisting chiefly of volumes. All publications are 

 furnished free upon request, addresses on a regular mailing list being 

 supplied promptly as the documents are received from the printer. 

 In addition requests from all sources are complied with daily as 

 received, 21,561 pamphlets being thus distributed in 1908. The total 

 distribution of publications for this year was 32,904, including besides 

 the above the documents supplied to the regular mailing list and a 

 number of back volumes of the Report and Bulletin as formerly 

 issued. 



SALARIES AND EXPENSES. 



A recent decision of the Treasury relative to subsistence for certain 

 employees of the Bureau has produced a condition for which it be- 

 comes necessary to ask Congress to provide a remedy. Baker Lake, 

 Washington, and Yes Bay and Afognak, Alaska, at which places the 

 Bureau operates fish-cultural stations, are in the wilderness, long 

 distances from any source of supply, with no opportunity for men to 

 board, and it is impossible for employees to obtain provisions except 

 as provided by the Government. Baker Lake, Washington, is 17 

 miles from a railroad, and all provisions must be transported over a 

 rough mountain trail by means of pack ponies, winter supplies being 

 purchased in bulk and brought in before the trail is blockaded by 

 snow. Yes Bay, Alaska, is about 40 miles from the nearest base of 

 supply, with only an irregular communication by water, which in 

 winter sometimes ceases entirely. The conditions at Afognak, 

 Alaska, are even worse, and when that station is fully completed simi- 

 lar arrangements for subsistence will be necessary. The employees 

 of these stations accepted their places with the understanding that 

 subsistence would be furnished, as is customary in hiring men for 

 lumbering operations and other work at a distance from settlements, 

 and it is doubted whether it would be possible without such an arrange- 

 ment to maintain an efficient personnel at these remote localities. 



