REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 4.'^ 



For improvements and completion of stations at — 



Craig Brook, Me $9, 300 



Green Lake, Me 15, 700 



Gloucester, Mass 5, 500 



Wytheville, Va 2, 200 



Manchester, Iowa 5, 000 



Northville, Mich 5, 000 



Leadville, Colo 7, 500 



For additions and improvements, biological laboratory at Beaufort, X. C. (5,000 



For purchase and repair, scientific equipment, steamer Albatross 10, 000 



For general repairs, steamer Fish Ha wk 7, 500 



For purchase of launch 2, 000 



Total 768, 860 



A report of the expenditures under these appropriations will be 

 made in accordance with law. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 

 NEW FISH HATCHERIES. 



During the Fifty-eighth Congress many bills providing for new fish 

 hatcheries were presented in the House and Senate and later referred 

 to the Bureau by the proper committees for recommendation. In 

 most cases it was possible to make favorable reports on the measures, 

 as the bills provided for the establishment of hatcheries either in 

 states where none now exists or in regions where additional stations 

 are clearly demanded by the magnitude of the fisheries and the extent 

 of the waters to be stocked. As it is a much simpler task to maintain 

 the fish supply of given waters than to restock the waters after deple- 

 tion, the early passage of the most meritorious of the bills is advocated. 



The popularity of catfish for the stocking of public and private 

 waters is yearly becoming greater, and the Bureau is unable, with its 

 present facilities, to meet the demand. The various species of cat- 

 fishes are hardy, prolific, and very palatable, and are among the best 

 fishes for certain waters, especially those of the central region of the 

 United States. It is therefore recommended that Congress authorize 

 the establishment of a station where catfish shall be the principal 

 species cultivated. 



IMPROVEMENT OF STATIONS. 



At several of the fish-cultural stations of the Bureau, improvements, 

 constructions, and repairs are required which can not be paid for out 

 of the general appropriation for propagation of food fishes, and will 

 therefore have to be provided for by special appropriation. Among 

 the stations at which such improvements are necessary are Battery 

 Island, Md., Wytheville, Va., Manchester, Iowa, and Baird, Cal.; 

 items covering the desired work will be inserted in the next estimates 

 of the Bureau. 



