REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 21 



the part of the States the migratory fishes, at least, in such waters 

 should be made the subject of Federal legislation. Such legislation 

 should furthermore be reenforced by extension of the provisions of 

 the Lacey Act to interstate traffic in fish and fishery products. 



NEW BUILDING AND AQUARIUM. 



Again is urged the necessity for providing the Bureau with ade- 

 quate office, laboratory, and aquarium facilities, a recommendation 

 that has been approved by the present Secretary and his two prede- 

 cessors. The present cramped and obsolete quarters, lacking in labo- 

 ratory and storage facilities, greatly retard the operations of the 

 Bureau and diminish its efficiency in various essential lines of work. 

 A new building on the present or an adjoining site is an absolute 

 essential for enabling the Bureau to meet the increasing exactions of 

 modern fishery work and to live up to its well-earned reputation at 

 home and abroad. In conjunction with this building there should 

 be maintained a suitable public aquarium, which would be one of the 

 chief attractions and educational institutions of the capital city. 



INCREASE OF SALARIES. 



In the estimates submitted to the Department for the appropria- 

 tions required for the Bureau for the fiscal year 1910 request has been 

 made for small increases in the salaries of executive, technical, and 

 clerical employees. These additions are demanded in the interests of 

 increased efficiency and as a matter of simple justice to deserving 

 employees. The recommended additions to salaries, including several 

 new positions, aggregate $15,300. which sum is offset by a reduction of 

 $51,000 in other items, so that the amount estimated for the main- 

 tenance of the Bureau for 1910 is $35,700 less than was appropriated 

 for 1909. 



Eespectfully, Geo. M. Bowers, 



Commissioner. 

 To Hon. Oscar S. Straus, 



Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 



