CONTENTS. 



I.— EEPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER. 



A— GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



Page. 



1. Iktroductoey kemakks x%- 



Number of reports hitherto published xv 



Period covered by present report xv 



Continued increase in the scale of operations each year xv' 



Division of subjects xv 



Special assistants in charge of divisions xv 



Of inquiry xv 



Of propagation xv 



2. Objects of the United States Fish Commission xvi 



Eesults aimed at by its work xvi 



1. Uluslrated reports on aquatic animals and plants xvi 



2. Collection of specimens for IN^ational Museum and for distribution to educational estab- 

 lishments xvi 



3. Reports on chemical and physical character of the waters, 'with reference to the intro- 

 duction of food-fishea xvi 



4. An account of the various methods and products of the fisheries, with snggestion.s as 



to improvements, especially by the introduction of xvii 



Beam- trawling xvii 



GUI-nets for capture of cod xvii 



5. Statistics and history of American fisheiies from the earliest time to the present xvii 



Methods by which this is to be accomplished xviii 



6. Improved system of obtaining statistics in the future xviii 



7. A complete exhibit in the National Museum of apparatus and products of the flsherioa xviii 



The woik commenced in connection with the International Eshibition at Philadelphia 



in 187G xviii 



Continuation since that time xviii 



8. Investigation of the movements and habits of fish as a basis for legislation xviii 



Necessity of covering the whole country in this research xviii 



Structure of fish way s and method of purifying the waters, a corollary xviii 



9. Preparing a judicious system of regulations as to close seasons, varying with the cir- 

 cumstances xix 



10. Actually stocking the waters of the United States witli useful food-fishes, and the best 



methods of accomplishing the object xix 



3. Assistance eendeked the Commission xix 



By the government in general xix 



General requirement to render all possible aid xix 



The Secretary of the Navy xix 



Detail of steamer Speedwell xix 



Supply of two launches xix 



Repair of Fish Commission vessels xix 



The Secretary of the Treasury xix 



Towing of vessels by revenue cutters xix 



The Light- House Board xk 



Temperature observations xx 



The Secretary of War xx 



Supply of arms and men to McCloud River Station xx 



The Chief Signal-Officer xx 



River and coast temperature observations xx 



Signal station at Gloucester xx 



Daily foiecasts of the weather xk 



The Patent Office xx 



Report on apparatus of fishing and fish culture xx 



The Post-Office Department xx 



Establishment of post-office at McCloud River hatchery xx 



r 



