REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 41 



fered with. The decline is generally ascribed to the capture of an 

 increasingly and inordinately large percentage of the run of spawning 

 fish in salt water, owing to the setting of numerous fixed and movable 

 devices in such a way as to intercept the schools. The seriousness of 

 the situation was fully appreciated b} T the state legislature, and meas- 

 ures for the protection of the shad were considered at the last session. 

 The deputy commissioner of the Bureau, having made an investigation 

 of the condition and needs of the fisher}-, appeared before the legisla- 

 ture by invitation and gave the results of his observations and made 

 suggestions for improving the fishery. Shortly afterwards the legisla- 

 ture enacted special laws along the lines advocated by the Bureau, which 

 it is expected will prove effective. 



FOREIGN INQUIRIES. 



In past years, as opportunity afforded or occasion arose, the Bureau 

 has conducted special investigations of the fisheries and fish-cultural 

 work of foreign countries. In 1905 there was undertaken an inquiry 

 concerning the cod fishery and the cod-liver oil industry of Norway, 

 with a view to determining the factors that contribute to the supe- 

 riority of the medicinal cod-liver oil prepared in Norway, this inquiry 

 being in pursuance of a joint study of domestic and foreign fish oils 

 which has been in progress by this Bureau and the Bureau of Chemistry 

 of the Department of Agriculture. A representative of the Bureau 

 of Fisheries visited the cod-fishing districts of Norway and became 

 personally acquainted with the methods of fishing, of handling the 

 fish and livers, and of extracting and refining the oil. 



In conjunction with the foregoing inquiries, various European fish- 

 cultural establishments were inspected, in order that the Bureau 

 might be informed regarding the methods and progress of pisciculture 

 abroad. Among the stations visited was the celebrated cod and lobster 

 hatchery near Arendal, Norway, which was the first of its kind and 

 has served as a model for the marine hatcheries in other countries, 

 including the United States. 



AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY. 



The thirty-first annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society 

 was held at Atlantic City, N. J., July 26-28, 1901. The president for 

 the current year was Mr. Frank N. Clark, superintendent of the 

 Michigan stations of the Bureau of Fisheries. About 70 persons. 

 representing 28 states and territories, were in attendance, and all 

 branches of the fishery interests were represented. The papers and 

 discussions covered many phases of the work in which the Bureau and 

 the various states are engaged, and the meeting proved one of the 

 most successful in the history of the society. At the invitation of the 

 United States Fish Commissioner, the society voted to hold its next 



