X REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



In the prosecution of its investigations tliis division has had the able 

 assistance of a number of gentlemen connected witli oui- colleges and 

 other institutions of learning, to whom acknowledgment is hereby 

 made by the Counnissiouer. The names of these gentlemen, and the 

 special inquiries on wliich they were engaged, as also the fuller details 

 of the work of the division, will be found in the accompanying report 

 of the assistant in charge. 



DIVISION OF STATISTICS AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



During the fiscal year 1892 the workof tliis division continued under 

 the general direction of Mr. J. W. Collins, assistant in charge, lie 

 having been designated by me as the representative of the Commission 

 on the Government Board of Control of the World's Columbian Expo- 

 sition, and his new duties requiring and receiving most of his atten- 

 tion, the immediate direction of the work of the divi.sion devolved upon 

 Mr. Hugh M. Smith, principal assistant. His report of operations 

 for the year is api)ended to and constitutes a part of the report of the 

 Commissioner. A brief summary of the more important features of* 

 the year's work in this division is here given. 



This division is charged by law with the study of the methods, rela. 

 tions, and statistics of the fisheries with a view to their improvement; 

 the study of the resources of the fishing-groundsof the Atlantic, Gulf, 

 and Pacific coasts, and the determination of methods for the develop- 

 ment of the same; the collection and compilation of the statistics of 

 the fisheries of all portions of the United States, including persons 

 employed, capital invested, and quantity and value of products, and 

 the preparation of reports relating to the inquiry. 



The geographical scope of the field investigations of the commercial 

 fisheries undertaken by the division during the year had reference to 

 the work accomplished during the two preceding years, when the 

 attention of the office was directed to the New England, South Atlan- 

 tic, Gulf, and Pacific States. The fisheries of the Great Lakes had not 

 been canvassed since 1885, and no complete study of the fishing indus- 

 try of the Middle Atlantic States had been made since 1888; audit 

 was, therefore, in these sections that the field force was placed. The 

 regular inquiries heretofore conducted at Boston and Gloucester were 

 continued. 



The canvass of the fisheries of the Great Lakes i)laced the office in 

 possession of interesting and useful data, showing the condition of the 

 industry in the calendar year 1890 and permitting the institution of 

 important comparisons with 1880 and 1885. A full synopsis of the 

 results of the investigation is given in the appended report of the 

 division, and the complete report on the lake fisheries will be found in 

 the appeiulix (pp. .'^(51-4:59). 



The fisheries of the Great Lakes haA'c from an early date attracted 

 much attention, not only in the States directly bordering thereon, but 



