XVIII EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



will be a very onerous one, but the later it is deferred tlie more and 

 more difficult will it be, with but little on record. Old men, still living, 

 alone possess the traditions in regard to the existence and progress of 

 many of our most important elements of the fisheries, and it has been a 

 special object of the Commission, at its several stations, to find such de- 

 positories and to collect, by the help of a phonographer, all the facts 

 they can furnish, as also to overhaul old account-books and other memo- 

 randa more or less fugitive in their character. A great amount of such 

 history has already been secured, especially in regard to the mackerel-, 

 cod-, and halibut-fisheries. 



6. The establishment either by the general government or in connexj- 

 tion with the States of a thoroughly reliable and exhaustive system of 

 recording fishery statistics for the future, to be combined annually and 

 published by some of the ijublic departments of the government. Some- 

 thing of this kind is done by the Treasury Department for a few branches 

 of the fisheries, but the result is necessarily inadequate and incomplete. 



7. The bringing together in the National Museum not only of a com- 

 plete collection of the aquatic animals and plants referred to, but of illus- 

 trations of all appa ratus or devices used in the prosecution of fisheries 

 at home and abroad, together with specimens of the residts. 



In- the winter of 1874-' 75 CongreSvS made an appropriation to enable 

 the Departments of the Government to in^esent at the International Ex- 

 hibition at Philadelphia a complete display of the resources of the United 

 States. A i^ortion of this fund having been assigned to the Fish Com- 

 mission, the occasion was embraced to commence such a collection as 

 that referred to. This was exhibited at Philadelphia and was highly 

 appreciated. Since that time every opportunity has been made use of to 

 secure additional objects of the same kind, showing the earlier and per- 

 haps obsolete methods and applications, as well as those that are now in 

 current use. To these have been added illustrations of the methods and 

 apparatus of artificial propagation of fishes, or of technical fish culture. 



8. An investigation of the movements and habits of the various kinds 

 of fish, to serve as a basis of legislation, either by the general govern- 

 ment or by the States. 



It is very difficult to establish data of this kind upon facts furnished 

 by any one State ; it is only by considering the subject in its relations 

 to the whole country that an equitable system of legislation can be 

 suggested. Dates and conditions that answer admirably for one part 

 of the country will be entirely unsuited to another, especiall.y so far as 

 relates to the periods during which fish should not be taken. The ques- 

 tion, too, of keeping open the natural channels of the water, so that 

 fish may ascend to their source, is one that will generally require the 

 action of the general government. 



Other inquiries involved are the introduction into the water of sub- 

 stances injurious to fish, either of a mechanical or chemical nature, &c. 



A corollary to the above is the determination of the best form of 



