REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 27 



may be mentioned a study of the special senses of fishes, which was 

 continued during- the summer of 1904 with reference to the car of the 

 squeteague; the food of fishes of little or no food value, mentioned 

 elsewhere in this report; an epidemic disease of menhaden in Narra- 

 gansett Bay and certain parts of Buzzards Bay; the effects of various 

 sorts of metal piping- upon marine organisms kept in aquaria; certain 

 properties of the blood of various marine animals; parasites of fishes; 

 the quantity of fish consumed by marine birds, etc. 



The fauna of the Beaufort region is being studied in a scries of 

 investigations undertaken by specialists in the various groups. The 

 chelonians, crustaceans, tunicates, echinoderms, sponges, actinians, 

 anthozoa, and also the algae received attention during the summer of 

 1904, and in addition to the general collecting and observation of fishes 

 of the region some studies of particular species were conducted. The 

 oyster and clam experiments carried on at this laboratory have been 

 mentioned elsewhere. 



EXPEDITION TO THE EASTERN PACIFIC. 



Early in the fiscal year arrangements were made to utilize the 

 steamer Albatross in carrying on certain investigations in the eastern 

 Pacific under the immediate direction of Mr. Alexander Agassiz. The 

 vessel left San Francisco October 6, and several months were devoted 

 to the work. Lines of soundings unci dredgings were run from 

 Panama to the Galapagos Islands; from the Galapagos Islands to 

 Callao, Peru; Callao to Easter Island; Easter Island to the Galapagos: 

 the Galapagos to the Gambier Islands, and thence to Acapulco. The 

 character of the ocean floor was thus developed, and important collec- 

 tions resulted from the dredgings, affording many valuable data for 

 the elucidation of the fauna of the regions visited. 



STATISTICS AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 

 CONDITION OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY. 



The fisheries of the United States exhibit a substantial increase from 

 year to year and as a whole are in a flourishing condition. Their 

 grow tli has resulted from the invasion of new fishing grounds, the 

 increased abundance of fishes due to protection and artificial propaga- 

 tion, the more active prosecution of the business in long-established 

 lines, and the greater utilization of products which until a compara- 

 tively recent time were entirely disregarded or considered as of little 

 economic value. These factors have more than compensated for the 

 decline in some important branches owing to indiscreet fishing or to 

 the inevitable effects of civilization on certain kinds of animal life and 

 on certain small waters. 



