REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. *0 



1S7G. An appropriation was made by Congress, in the early spring of 

 1875, to enable the various executive departments of tbe Government to 

 present an exhibit of tbe character and extent of their operations, 

 to include a representation of the animal, vegetable, and mineral re- 

 sources of tbe United States, and their primary applications to the wants 

 and luxuries of man. Among tbe departments designated by the act 

 was the United States Fish Commission, for the purposes of which an 

 appropriation of $5,000 was made. 



As the south coast of New England furnished an excellent ground for 

 securing a portion of the material for this exhibition. Wood's Holl, as 

 being the most convenient station yet established by the Commission, 

 was found to be very available. 



Eeference, in the previous report, has been made to the supply, under 

 the law, by theXavy Department, of the steam-tug Blue Light, a staunch 

 vessel of about 85 tons, and well adapted for the inshore work. Her 

 first cruise in the service of the Commission was at Portland ; her second, 

 at jSToank. She was again furnished by the Department in 1875, and, as 

 before, was under the command of Commander L. A. Beardslee. Dr. J. 

 n. Kidder was detailed to act as surgeon and naturalist, having acquired 

 well-merited distinction while serving in a similar capacity during the 

 Transit of Venus Expedition, on board the Swatara, and at Kergacleu 

 Land. 



The Commissioner reached Wood's Holl on the 21st of June, with his 

 assistants, and immediately commenced his labors, the field ef inquiry 

 and research being proportionally enlarged on the arrival of the Blue 

 Light on the 12th of July. 



As before, the inquiry into the invertebrate animals was prosecuted 

 under the direction of Prof. A. E. Verrill, assisted by Mr. S. 1. Smith, Mr. 

 S. F. Clark and Mr. C. Hart Merriam. The work connected with the fishes 

 and cetaceans was directed by Mr. G.Brown Goode, assisted by Mr.Tarle- 

 tou H. Bean, Capt. H. C. Chester and Mr. Vinal N. Edwards. With the 

 special object of securing illustrations for the Centennial display, the 

 services of Messrs. J. H. Blake and J. H. Eichard, artists, T. W. Smillie, 

 photographer, and Mr. William Palmer, modeler, were engaged. 



As usual, a number of scientific specialists embraced the occasion fur- 

 nished by the facilities and opportunities of the Commission to visit 

 Wood's Holl for the purpose of carrying on their investigations, remain- 

 ing there during the greater part of the season. Among these may be 

 mentioned Prof. A. Hyatt, custodian of the Boston Society of jSiatural 

 History ; Dr. William G. Farlow, professor of botany in Harvard Col- 

 lege; Dr. H. A. Hagen,of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cam- 

 bridge; Mr. Symonds, of the Boston Natural History Society; Prcf. 

 Theodore Gill and Mr. William H. Dall, of Washington; Mr. Sander- 

 son Smith, of New York; Prof. D. C. Eaton, Mr. Oscar Harger, and Mr. 

 J. K. Thatcher, of Yale College. Wood's Holl was also visited lor 

 shorter periods by numerous persons interested in the operations of the 

 Commission and desirous of witnessing their nature; among them Mr. 



