XXXVIII REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



a time in the winter months at this region, often renders it impossible 

 for the fishermen to go out to sea. As a rule, fishing cannot be carried 

 ou more than two days in a week." 



13.— THE VALUE OF FISH AS FOOD. 



In a previous Report reference was made to the results of a series of 

 elaborate chemical investigations by Prof. W. O. Atwater, of Middle- 

 town, Conn., into the absolute and comparative value of fish as food. 

 This work has been continued during the year on an increased scale, 

 and it is expected that his next report will contain some additional data 

 of much interest. 



14. — WORK DONE AT WOOD'S HOLE, MASS., IN 1881. 



Advantages as a permanent sea-coast station of the United States Fish 

 Commission. — From the inception of the work of the Commission in 1871 

 it has been the custom to select some station on the sea-coast from 

 which to prosecute the researches required by Congress into the scien- 

 tific and economical problems connected with the sea and its inhabitants; 

 the stations, as already indicated, covering the coast from the Bay of 

 Fundy to Long Island Sound. In this way the peculiarities of the in- 

 shores have been well determined and the geographical distribution of 

 the fishes, mollusks, Crustacea, radiates, &c., properly marked out. In 

 addition to the discovery of a great many new species, much light has 

 been thrown upon the whole subject of marine zoology generally. 



It is not to be supposed that everything in this connection has been 

 learned; but the broad features have been determined, and the minor 

 details can be safely left to local and special researches. 



The acquisition of a sea-going steamer in the Fish Hawk, and the 

 hope of obtaining a still more serviceable vessel, rendered it expedient 

 to fix upon some point for permanent occupation where the necessary 

 facilities for the maritime work of the Commission could be obtained. 

 The southern side of New England was considered better than the 

 eastern, as permitting investigation for a longer j)eriod and presenting 

 a much richer fauna. The best conditions for the propagation of marine 

 fishes were also found on the southern coast of New England, as fish 

 are in greater variety, and, so far as the winter hatching is concerned, 

 the cold is less severe, and other circumstances generally were more fa- 

 vorable. 



By the use of a suitable fishing smack, the fish can be brought in 

 alive and penned up until they are ready to yield their eggs, and in 

 this way will be exposed to much less danger from destruction by cold 

 than proved to be the case at Gloucester. 



After a careful consideration of the subject, the choice was found to 

 lie between Newport and Wood's Holl. Newport has a great many ad- 

 vantages in its accessibility, and in the very great desire manifested 

 by its citizens to secure the presence of the United States Fish Com- 



