REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 161 



The plan proposed contemplated the assignment of agents to menhaden 

 vessels fishing from various points on the coast, and the recording of the 

 detailed results of each seine-haul during the season. 



By the opening of the fishing season, in May, 1894, arrangements 

 had been perfected for conducting an inquiry in accordance with the 

 plan suggested in the report cited. The limited force available for this 

 work, owing to the prosecution of extensive field inquiries in the Great 

 Lakes, necessitated a curtailment of the original plan to the extent of 

 making continuous observations on only two menhaden vessels. A 

 number of menhaden firms consented to the use of their vessels, when 

 the purposes of the investigation were made known. The offers 

 accepted were those of Messrs. Luce Brothers, of Niantic, Conn., and 

 Mr. A. J. Morse, of Hoffman's Wharf, Va., the former tendering the 

 use of the steamer Arizona, of 103 tons; the latter the steamer J. W. 

 Hawkins, of 125 tons. Mr. C. E. Latimer, a former employee of the 

 Commission, was appointed to duty on the Arizona, and Mr. E. F. 

 Locke, field agent, was assigned to the J. W. Hawkins. Owing to sick- 

 ness, Mr. Latimer's services were discontinued shortly after he entered 

 on the work, and Mr. W. P. Hay, teacher of zoology in the Washington 

 High School, took his place. 



Up to the end of the fiscal year the inquiry had progressed satisfac- 

 torily, and the indications were that by the close of the season more 

 detailed and reliable information than had ever before been collected 

 on this subject would be in the possession of the Commission. 



SALMON IN COAST WATERS AND AT SEA. 



A paper entitled "Notes on the capture of Atlantic salmon at sea 

 and in the coast waters of the Eastern States " was issued in pamphlet 

 form in May, 1894. The purpose of the article was to record some of 

 the results of salmon culture, as evidenced by the capture of salmon 

 in places remote from the rivers in which fry had been deposited; to 

 solicit information from offshore and coast fishermen concerning the 

 taking of salmon in their nets, and "to bring to their attention the 

 opportunity they will thus have of increasing the knowledge of the 

 movements of the salmon, of aiding in the determination of the results 

 of fish cultural operations, and of ultimately, if not immediately, bene- 

 fiting themselves by supplying information that will conduce to the 

 most effective application of artificial methods." 



An edition of 500 copies of the article was printed. The paper was 

 sent to persons engaged in the mackerel, menhaden, and other ocean 

 fisheries, and to the operators of pound nets, traps, and other shore 

 apparatus in the New England and Middle States, accompanied by a 

 circular letter from the Commissioner directing attention to that part 

 of the paper in which information was solicited. 



Already numerous replies have been received recording the occur- 

 rence of salmon on various parts of the coast, and it is expected that 

 in the next two or three years much valuable material will be obtained 

 in this way. 



F . E . 04 11 



