EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISIIEEIES. XXI 



improvement of the carp ponds on Mouumeut Lot, tlie work being exe- 

 cuted with great economy and with satisfactory results. 



The public and othcial acknowledgments of the Commission for im- 

 portant ser\ices rendered are also equally due to many private establish- 

 ments and individuals. The most important of these is the Maryland Fish 

 Commission, under the direction of Mr. T. B. Ferguson. By combining 

 oi)erations at various times with this organization, the United States 

 Commission has been enabled not only to secure the valuable superin- 

 tendence and aid of Mr. Ferguson in its work, but the free use of im- 

 portant apparatus, and a consequent reduction of the absolute expense. 



The Druid Hill Park Commission, of the city of Baltimore, is also 

 entitled to mention in this connection for authorizing the use of the park 

 for the cultivation by the Commission of the German carp, golden ide, 

 and other fishes. For this purpose it constructed several ponds at 

 a large expense to itself, for the continued culture of these fish, thus 

 serving as an auxiliary station to the establishment at Washington. 

 This is a matter of very great importance, as the ponds in Washington 

 are very low, and the locality has been overflowed by the Potomac 

 Eiver several times within the last thirty years ; and as this may at 

 any time occur again, involving the loss of all the fish, the Baltimore 

 station will furnish the means of renewing the supply at Washington. 



A large number of railroads throughout the country, a list of which 

 will be furnished hereafter (see j). xxxvii-xxx-sdii), have also co-operated 

 with the Commission. The special favor conferred is that of receiving 

 quartermaster's orders for the transportation of messengers, and in per- 

 mitting the cans containing the young fish to be carried in the baggage 

 cars of express trains without extra charge, and allowing at the san^e 

 time the attendance of one or more messengers. 



The extent of this favor can be better appreciated by the fact that 

 not unfrequently there are two messengers, with twelve to eighteen 50- 

 quart milk cans filled with water, to be transported on a i)assenger train. 



Acknowledgments due to other co-operating bodies and to individ- 

 uals, will be made in their proper place. 



B.— INQUIEY IKTO' THE HISTOEY AKD STATISTICS OF 



FOOD-FISHES. 



4. — FIELD OPEEATIONS DUEING THE SUMMER OF 1878. 



The ability to carry on the researches along the coast of the United 

 States, for the purpose of solving the problems referred to in a preceding 

 page, has been dependent in a great measure upon the facilities fur- 

 nished by the Navy Department for the piu-j^ose ; and I have already 

 mentioned that the liberal interpretation of the law of Congress made 

 by the predecessor of the present Secretary of the Navj^ and carried out 

 by the latter in the earlier years of his administration, has been continued 

 diu:ing the year 1878. 



