44 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



The fish-cultural property of the Bureau at San Marcos, Tex., would 

 be improved by the elimination of the public road that now inter- 

 sects the government reservation, necessitating the maintenance of 

 two otherwise unnecessary fences and complete^ isolating that part 

 of the propert}^ which abuts on the San Marcos River. It is recom- 

 mended that authorit} T be granted to acquire, by purchase or otherwise, 

 the section of road through the station grounds and to provide the 

 city of San Marcos with another and more direct road across the river. 



PISH LAKES, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



The fish lakes of the Bureau located in the city of Washington near 

 the Potomac, and comprehended in the parking system, were established 

 many years ago by act of Congress for the propagation of carp, but 

 for a long time have been devoted exclusively to the cultivation of the 

 basses. The station grounds are quite extensive, and the necessity for 

 maintaining them in a manner befitting government property in the 

 Mall considerably increases the operating expenses of the station 

 without any benefits to the fish-cultural work. Under these circum- 

 stances, the abandonment of this station is to be recommended as soon 

 as provision is made for conducting this work elsewhere. The new 

 site should be in Maryland or Virginia, preferably in the vicinity of 

 Washington, and should be provided with an ample supply of water 

 secured by gravity and with adequate space for an elaborate pond 

 system. 



ACCLIMATIZATION OF THE EASTERN LOBSTER ON THE PACIFIC COAST. 



Although the efforts heretofore made by the Bureau to acclimatize 

 the eastern lobster on the Pacific coast have not been successful, there 

 is every reason to believe that the scheme is feasible, and the attempt 

 should be renewed on a scale commensurate with the extent of the 

 waters to be stocked. There is probably no other fishery product of 

 the eastern seaboard whose acclimatization would be such a boon to 

 the entire west coast, and the prospective economic importance of the 

 project warrants the government in undertaking- it. It is therefore 

 strongly recommended that Congress make a sufficient appropriation 

 to enable the Bureau to collect, transport, and plant a large consign- 

 ment of lobsters at a number of suitable points in California, Oregon, 

 Washington, and Alaska. 



PROTECTION OF FISHES. 



Several cases have recently arisen suggestive of the benefits that 

 might accrue to the fishing industry if the general government exer- 

 cised jurisdiction. These cases also show how the fish-cultural work 

 of the Bureau of Fisheries and of the state fish commissions may be 



