XXX REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



T. B. Ferguson, and estimates obtained from several builders, notably 

 the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Pusey & Jones, &c. The cost^ 

 however, was much greater than the available funds of the Commis- 

 sion would admit, and the subject was necessarily deferred for a future 

 occasion. 



4.— TRANSPORTATION AND HATCHING CARS. 



Reference has already been made to the adaptation of a baggage car 

 of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad to the needs 

 of the Commission in the transportation of young fish. For the sake of 

 securing proper attention to this car by railroad companies, it was, by 

 permission, labeled •" Pennsylvania," as if belonging to the Pennsylva- 

 nia Railroad Company. 



A second car, authorized by Congress, was built entirely for the Com- 

 mission by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and labeled 

 " Baltimore and Ohio, No. 2, United States Fish Commission." 



The entire bill of the railroad company for the construction of this 

 car complete and ready for use amounted to $7,218.55, although some 

 additional expense was incurred in adapting the special fish transport- 

 ing apparatus, the total cost amounting to about $8,000. 



This car was built under the supervision of Mr. F. S. Eastman, and 

 according to a form of trussing patented by him. It olfered special ad- 

 vantages in the way of strength and lightness. 



The measurement of these cars is as follows : Length of car No. 1, 51 

 feet 2 inches without platform; with platform, 57 feet 6 inches; total 

 height from the track to the topmost projection, 14 feet lA inches; total 

 width 9 feet 10 inches. 



The dimensions of car No. 2 are, length from out to out of buffers, 59 

 feet 9 inches; total width, 10 feet; height from top of track to top of 

 hood, 14 feet § inches. 



Work upon this car was begun about the 13th of March, and on the 

 24th of May it was received, completed, from Baltimore. The first trip 

 made by it was with a load of carp, on the 4th of November. 



Further details of the uses of these cars will be found under the 

 special heads. 



5. — COURTESIES EXTENDED TO THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



As in previous years, I have the pleasure of acknowledging many im- 

 portant courtesies extended to the Commission by the various Depart- 

 ments of the Government, by railroad and steamboat companies, and 

 by Individuals. Indeed, without the help thus rendered it would be 

 quite impossible to carry on the work on its present scale, without a 

 very considerable increase in the appropriations. 



The Treasury Department. — The Secretary's office. — On the oc- 

 casion of the expected arrival of certain collections of fish from abroad 

 the Secretary of the Treasury directed the collector of customs at New 



