REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. *15 



names that was classified by states, counties, and towns, and to Avliich 

 the circulars were then distributed. Copies were sent also to all the 

 collectors and inspectors of customs, inspectors of light-houses, light- 

 house keepers, and other officials of the government. 



The long exi^erieuce of the Smithsonian Institution in collecting infor- 

 mation has shown that it is not well to ask for too much at one time, and 

 that a new circular should not be distributed until the responses to its pre- 

 decessors liave in greater part been received. The result in the present 

 case was even more satisfactory than had been anticipated, though, of 

 course, a large precentage brought no answers whatever. Out of a con- 

 siderable number a few were so complete and exhaustive as to cover the 

 whole ground, while those of less extent served to give greater minute- 

 ness and precision to the details. 



The first result of this series of inquiries into the history and statis- 

 tics of particular fisheries is seen in the report of the United States Fish 

 Commissioner for 1871-'72, in articles upon the bluefish and scup, made 

 by myself; the next appears in the report for 1875-1870, in a memoir 

 upon the American whale-fishery, by Alex. Starbuck, intended to 

 serve as a record of a century's progress in this industry. The histori- 

 cal portion of the work was prepared entirely by Mr. Starbuck himself. 

 Uis statistics were, however, suj>plemented and extended by the answers 

 to Circular No. G, of the series^ just referred to. In the Appendix to the 

 present report. Vol. V of the series, wiU be found a monograph upon 

 the history of the American menhaden by Mr. G-. Brown Goode. This 

 is a work of 539 pages, and is based almost entirely upon the informa- 

 tion furnished in MS. in response to several successive circulars sent out 

 by the Commission. Circidars have also been distributed in regard to the 

 cod, mackerel, halibut, alewife, and smelt ; and monogra]ihs upon all 

 these species may be looked for in future volumes of the Fish Commis- 

 sion reports. A great deal of information has also been gathered in ref- 

 erence to the natural history of other fishes, among the most important 

 of which is the southern mullet, a fish which in the future is destined to 

 rival the mackerel in industrial and commercial value, and a detailed 

 report upon which will be published at an early day. 



In addition to the methods of obtaining information just referred to 

 much has, of course, been gathered by personal inquiry ou various por- 

 tions of the coast, either direct or through agents of the Commission. 

 The results obtained in this relation by Vinal K Edwards, of Wood's 

 IIoll, ]\Iass., have already been mentioned under the head of Halifax 

 Commission. 



A proper knowledge of the methods of fishing practiced in other coun- 

 tries having been deemed desirable, I have had translations prepared 

 of sundry articles containing otherwise inaccessible information in refer- 

 ence to the fisheries of Norway and other parts of Europe most closely 

 related to our own. To such as appear in the present volume I proceed 

 to refer. 



