REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 69 



Owing to the approaching completion of the Fairport (Iowa) 

 station and its operation on a large scale as a mussel hatchery and 

 experiment station, a small addition to the present appropriation for 

 the division of inquiry respecting food fishes is essential. 



PERSONNEL. 



In the estimates submitted to the Secretary for appropriations 

 required for the operations of the Bureau for the fiscal year 1913, 

 changes are made in the designation, compensation, and status of 

 certain employees and provision is made for several new positions, 

 for reasons that have been fully set forth and need not be reiterated 

 here. Among these items that are strongly recommended are: (1) 

 To change the title of chief clerk to assistant in charge of office and 

 increase his compensation from $2,400 to $3,000 per annum; (2) to 

 increase the salary of librarian from $1,200 to $1,500; (3) to estab- 

 lish in the division of fish culture the position of senior clerk, at 

 $1,800 per annum, who shall act as special aid to the assistant in 

 charge and relieve him of manifold routine duties; (4) to create in 

 the division of inquiry respecting food fishes the position of fish 

 pathologist, at $2,500 per annum, and to provide for one additional 

 scientific assistant, at $2,000 per annum; (5) in the Alaska fisheries 

 service, to increase the salaries of two physicians at the seal islands 

 from $1,200 to $1,800 per annum and to raise the salaries of the 

 wardens and four deputy wardens. 



The deputy commissioner, the agents at Alaska salmon fisheries, 

 and the wardens in the Alaska fisheries service are now nominated 

 by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It is believed that 

 these positions should be included in the classified civil service and 

 be filled by direct appointment by the Secretary, and this recom- 

 mendation is embodied in the estimates submitted. 



The Commissioner takes this occasion to express to the chiefs and 

 subordinates in all branches of the service his appreciation of their 

 loyal support and cooperation, which have resulted in efficient and 

 economic performance of the duties imposed by law, and he renews 

 the recommendation of former years for a general readjustment of 

 salaries, so that adequate compensation, commensurate with indi- 

 vidual responsibility and capacity and with changed economic con- 

 ditions, may be given throughout the service. 

 Respectfully, 



Geo. M. Bowers, 



Commissioner. 



To Hon. Charles Nagel, 



Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 



