REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 61 



of the United States in the administrative and other expenses of the 

 council. 



Practically all the important fishery problems that are demanding 

 attention in Europe are similar to or identical with those which have 

 already come up or are destined to arise on the western shores of the 

 Atlantic, and, in fact, along our entire coast. It will be of the great- 

 est advantage to the United States as a whole and to each of the sea- 

 board States if this country is able to participate in and profit di- 

 rectly by the studies conducted by the leading fishery authorities and 

 experts of western Europe, and the saving of much time and expense 

 will result from this cooperation. It is therefore hoped that Con- 

 gress will grant the necessary authority. 



FIFTH INTERNATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 



The United States was represented by a scientific assistant of the 

 Bureau of Fisheries at the Fifth International Fishery Congress, 

 which was held in Rome in May, 1911, in connection with the celebra- 

 tion of the fiftieth anniversary of the unification of Italy. There 

 were about 350 members in attendance, and about 30 countries were 

 represented by official delegates, among whom were many of the 

 leading authorities of the world in matters relating to the fisheries. 



Of the objects of international interest discussed by the congress, 

 that relating to the regulation of the sponge fisheries was of the most 

 concern to the United States. Both in this country and in the Med- 

 iterranean the best and most prolific sponge beds are outside the 

 limits of ordinary territorial jurisdiction, and they therefore present 

 special difficulties in policing. An important act of the congress 

 was the provision of a special committee to arrange and coordinate 

 the discussions of subjects of international importance. Ostend, 

 Belgium, was selected as the place for the next session of the con- 

 gress, which will be held in 1913. 



FOREIGN FISHERY INQUIRIES. 



At the request of the Department of State, a representative of 

 the Bureau was detailed to visit Newfoundland to observe the opera- 

 tions of American vessels engaged in the herring fishery on the west 

 coast of the island under the provisions of the treaty of 1818. The 

 detail extended from November 20, 1910, to February 28, 1911. This 

 was the sixth year in which a similar detail has been made. No 

 vessel was assigned to the work either this year or last, the repre- 

 sentative making headquarters on shore and visiting the various 

 localities by the regular means of transportation. 



In connection with the detail of Bureau assistants at The Hague 

 on the occasion of the arbitration proceedings relative to the North 

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