EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. *13 



Marine and Fislieries, Mr. A. J. Smitli, was present mucli of tlie time, 

 while Mr. William F. Wliitclier, superintendent of fisheries of Canada, 

 with one or more assistants, was constantly on hand to render any ex- 

 planation or give any further information in his power. It is greatly to 

 be hoped that, whether with reference to future couA^entions of this kind 

 or not, the necessary steps will be taken by the United States to secure 

 data corresponding to those taken regularly and systematically in Can- 

 ada. While it may only be practicable for the States to secure informa- 

 tion in regard to the detailed catch in rivers, ponds, and other inland 

 waters, there certainly need be no difficulty on the part of the United 

 States in obtaining the facts necessary to a full understanding of the 

 coast fisheries. All vessels above a certain size must be licensed for the 

 fisheries, in return for which they obtain certain privileges in the way 

 of free salt. It will be entirely proper as a return, to require informa- 

 tion as to the nature and magnitude of the catch of each vessel, the pre- 

 cise field of operations, and especially as to the quantity of fish taken 

 within three miles of the shore of either the United States or the Brit- 

 ish provinces. 



Having referred to the information fiu-nished by Captain At wood and 

 Mr. Cheney, it is proper to state that verj^ important statistics in regard 

 to the sale of fresh fish in the ISTew York market were obtained through 

 the instrumentality of Mr. E. G. Blackford, the wejfi known fish-dealer 

 of Fulton Market. Mr. Vinal ]N". Edwards, of Wood's Holl, an enq^loye 

 of the United States Fish Commission, secured a great amount of in- 

 formation by personally visiting the fishing-grounds of Vineyard Sound 

 and Buzzard's Bay. 



The labor of compiling and digesting the statistics furnished to the 

 Commission, and obtained from various sources, was in charge of Mr. 

 G. Brown Goode, whose faithful and comi)rehensive services in this 

 respect entitle him to the heartiest acknowledgments 



D.— STATISTICS OF THE SEA-FISHEEIES. 



The necessity of having at hand more accurate statistics of the great 

 fisberies of the United States, both sea-coast and inland, so urgently 



yeiir ending December 31, 1877, contains a series of very exliaustive tallies show- 

 ing in detail the results of the fisheries in every province of the Dominion. Too 

 much cannot be said in commendation of the very thorough method iu -which the 

 Canadian Government regulates and protects its fisheries. Accurate statistical in- 

 formation is the one essential foundation iipon which protective legislation must rest. 

 This is obtained by a system, not very cumbersome and not very expensive, which, 

 iinder the direction of Mr. Whitcher, seems to be very eilicient. The number of men 

 enii)loyed iu the staff" of fishery officers in 1877 was 601, 595 of whom are observers and 

 wardens, with salaries ranging from $20 to $500; the others, officers of steamers or in- 

 spection officers, with salaries of .$800 to ^1,500. The total amount paid to fishery offi- 

 cers for the year ending June 30, 1877, was $54,251 in addition to the expense of main- 

 taining the fisheries' protective steamer, $17,059 more; in all, $71,310. This is exclu- 

 sively for the protection and regulation of fisheries, which yielded in this same year 

 products valued at $11,422,502. 



