EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XIX 



fishways for the different conditions of American rivers,^ of methods ot 

 chemical or mechanical purification of the waters, «&c. 



9. By means of the information to be thus obtained, it will be possible 

 to determine what regulations shall be made by the general government 

 or by the States in respect to close seasons or intermissions of capture, 

 the size of the fish to be caught, the enfofced use of fishways, regulations 

 as to introduction of refuse, &c. All this will require careful considera- 

 tion, so as to avoid infringing upon natural or vested rights, while doing 

 everything to the best interest of the community. 



10. The stocking the various waters of the United States with the 

 fish most suited to them, either by artificial propagation or transfer, 

 and the best methods and apparatus for accomplishing this object. 



3. ASSISTANCE RENDERED THE COMMISSION. 



The act of Congress authorizing the prosecution of the labors of the 

 United States Fish Commission instructs the Heads of the various de- 

 partments of the Government to render to it all necessary and possible 

 aid ; and, as in previous years, the most generous and liberal interpre- 

 tation of the law has been given by them. 



To the Secretary of the ^avy, Hon. K. W. Thompson, obligations are 

 especially due for aid, without which the success of the Commission would 

 have been much diminished, both in the branch of Inquiry and Propa- 

 gation. 



The most notable favor rendered by the Secretary has been the fitting 

 out of the iron steamer Speedwell, and placing it at the disposal of the 

 Commission for the summer- work, this being the third year of its detail 

 for such service. Only second in importance to this was the furnishing 

 of two steam launches, with two firemen each, to be used in connection 

 with the propogation of shad in Albermarle Sound and in the Susque- 

 hanna River. 



In accordance with the instructions of the Secretly of the Navy to 

 the commandant, the facilities of the navy-yard at Washington have 

 been freely extended in the fitting out or repairs of the scows and o^her 

 vessels belonging to the Fish Commission. 



The Treasury Department, through the Bureau of Eevenue Marine, 

 has also rendered a hearty co-operation by transporting the hatching 

 barges of the Commission to and from their various stations. The reve- 

 nue-cutter Ewing, under Captain Fengar, towed these boats from Wash- 

 ington to Norfolk en route for the scene of operations on Albemarle 

 Sound, and, at its conclusion, from Norfolk to Ha^Te de Grace, for service 

 there, and finally back to Washington when the hatching season was 

 completed for the year. 



The revenue-cutter E. A. Stevens, under command of Capt. J. G. 

 Baker, and stationed at Newbern, was also instructed to render similar 

 aid, whenever necessary, in the Albemarle Sound waters. 



