REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 13 



private establishments has always been a source of embarrassment and 

 loss. These studies have been made at a number of places and under 

 various conditions, and it is hoped the}' will result in rendering- it pos- 

 sible to stamp out disease, or, better still, prevent its appearance. 



The laboratories at Woods Hole and Beaufort, which have been open 

 as usual during- the season, have been utilized by a number of trained 

 investigators, who are attracted by the facilities offered for biological 

 research. The investigations carried on have direct bearing on the 

 various problems related to the fisheries and are exceedingly valuable 

 to the Commission in the performance of its functions. 



In the laboratory at Washington studies have been made of various 

 collections of fishes and of particular species, reports prepared, and 

 much work of a miscellaneous character accomplished. 



STATISTICAL INQUIRIES. 



The principal statistical canvass undertaken was that, of the Middle 

 Atlantic States, and at the close of the fiscal 3'ear it was still in prog- 

 ress. Besides this, the lobster fishery and several inquiries relating to 

 minor or local fisheries were covered. 



At Boston and Gloucester, during the calendar 5^ear 1901, there were 

 landed 161,165,191 pounds of fishery products, valued at $4,215,951, 

 These figures are somewhat less than in the preceding year, both in 

 quantity and value, both ports participating in the decrease. 



An inquiry prosecuted in the State of Utah developed that a con- 

 siderable fishing industry, amounting to over 1,000,000 pounds and 

 nearl}' $50,000, is carried on in that State, the principal part of the 

 catch being taken from Utah Lake and consisting mainly of carp, 

 trout, and black bass. It is not possible to show the entire quantity 

 taken, for here, as in other interior waters, much of the fishing is by 

 sportsmen or for the personal use of the fishermen and is not reported. 



In the season of 1901 a canvass of the lobster fishery of the Atlantic 

 coast States was made, and interesting comparisons of the value of the 

 industry for the preceding ten years will be found on pp. 15'6-158. This 

 inquiry, which covered the calendar j^ear 1900, showed a total invest- 

 ment of $1,668,000 and that 1,318 persons were employed. While 

 lobster fishing is carried on to some extent from New York and New 

 fTerse}^ it is chiefl}^ confined to the New England States, Maine having 

 far the largest interest, followed by Massachusetts. The total j^eld 

 was 15,767,700 pounds, having a first value of $1,390,500. 



In the report of the DiA^ision of Statistics, on pp. 151—155, will be 

 found notes on salmon fishing with hand apparatus in several localities 

 on the Pacific coast. This method of capture has achieved some com- 

 mercial importance during the last few years, besides being in vogue 

 with anglers. There are also given in the report the results of some 

 inquiries respecting the trade in fur-seal skins in London. 



