REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 



A.— GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



1. — INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



Tbo present report is intended to include an account of the operations 

 of the United States Fish Commission for the calendar year 1878, 

 although the history of a portion of its work, especially that connected 

 with the propagation of salmon, is continued to the date of the actual 

 planting and disposition of the young fish in 1879. It constitutes the 

 sixth volume of the series, although relating to the eighth year of the 

 existence of the Commission. 



As in i^revious years, the history of the work of 1875 shows a con- 

 tinued increase in the scale of operations, commensurate with the increased 

 appropriations made by Congress. This, however, has involved no 

 material addition to the exjiense of the management, the clerical force 

 remaining the same, notwithstanding an enormous increase of corre- 

 spondence, especially with the fish commissioners of States, fish culturists, 

 and generally i)ersons inteiested in having private or i^ublio waters sui)- 

 plied with the fish covered by the work of the Commission. 



In the accomi)anying reports, the operations of the Commission will 

 be treated, as heretofore, under two heads — Inquiry and Propagation. 



Under the former is included the history, condition, and statistics of 

 the great fisheries and the i^roper methods of prosecuting them; and 

 with thi^ are closely connected questions as to the natural or adventitious 

 causes influencing the abundance of fish and the methods by which such 

 abundance may be increased. 



Under the second head is given the history of measures taken to ac- 

 tually increase the supply of desirable fishes in particular waters, either 

 by artificial j)ropagation, or by transfer from other localities, or both 

 combined. 



The first-mentioned division of the work, including research into the 

 character of the fishes belonging to the North Americ.in fauna, has been 

 in charge of Mr. Gr. Brown Goode, assisted by Dr. T. H. Bean. The 

 collection and investigation of marine invertebrates has been conducted 

 by Prof. A. E. Verrill, assisted by Mr. Richard Rathbun, Mr. Sanderson 

 Smith, and Mr. Warren Upham. The work of propagation of food-fishes 

 was under the superintendence of ]\Ir. James W. Milner, assistant com- 

 missioner, aided by Mr. Frank N. Clark, and with the very valuable co- 



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