ge REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The destructive methods followed in the capture of fish and shellfish 
in the territorial and contiguous waters of the United States and the 
British Possessions in North America, as also in the open seas outside 
of the territorial limits of either country, but which are resorted to for 
the purpose of fishing by their respective inhabitants, as well as the 
polluting and obstructing of such contiguous waters, to the detriment of 
their fisheries, have long been matters which have invited the attention 
of the respective Governments; and the necessity of uniform mutual 
laws regulating the prosecution of the fisheries, as also the adoption of 
methods for the replenishing of depleted waters, have equally been felt 
to be necessary if the fisheries were to be maintained. An agreement 
was reached by the two Governments on December 6, 1892, which pro- 
vided for the appointment of a joint commission of two experts, one 
on behalf of each government, to consider and report upon the whoie 
question. As representative on the part of Great Britain, Dr. Wil- 
liam Wakeham, of the department of marine and fisheries of Canada, 
was appointed, and on the part of the United States Mr. Richard 
Rathbun, of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries. The 
two commissioners had their first meeting at Washington, on March 2, 
1893. For the general scope of the inquiry to be prosecuted, reference 
is made to Mr. Rathbun’s report. 
During the spring and summer of 1893 investigations were conducted 
to learn what, if any, benefits had resulted from the series of close sea- 
sons in the spring mackerel fishery, provided by the act of Congress 
passed in 1886, the information also being needed by the Joint Fishery 
Commission. The schooner Grampus attended the fishing fleet on the 
southern fishing-grounds and thence to those off Nova Scotia. Many 
valuable observations were made, and much important information 
secured bearing upon the fishery. As the data of several seasons are 
necessary before any reasonable conclusions on the subject can be 
reached the consideration thereof is deferred. Other incidental inves- 
tigations conducted by the division are shown in the report of Mr. 
tathbun. 
DIVISION OF STATISTICS AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
During the year the administration of the affairs of this division 
devolved upon Dr. Hugh M. Smith, and reference is made to his ap- 
pended report for a résumé of the work accomplished. Capt. J. W. 
Collins, the assistant in charge, retained the general direction of the 
work of the division up to September 26, 1892, and on December 27 of 
the same year he resigned from the Commission. 
The work of the Division of Statistics and Methods of the Fisheries 
has continued of the same general character referred to in my previ- 
ous reports. The scope of the operations is, however, becoming more 
extended and valuable year by year, and the practical usefulness of 
the division is annually becoming more evident. 
