REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 31 
extended series of investigations of the food of fishes, but, as an 
effort in the right direction, it has secured the temporary services 
of a competent investigator at Madison, Wis., for the study of the 
food of a selected species throughout the entire year. 
In this connection, reference should be made to the continuation 
of the practice of giving encouragement and financial aid to special- 
ists in the prosecution of sytematic studies of certain groups of 
aquatic animals and plants. Studies of this nature now in progress 
at the Beaufort laboratory relate to the protozoa and to the diatoms, 
very low forms of animals and plants, respectively, but forms that 
play a very significant part in the economy of aquatic life, and which 
in various direct and indirect ways bear upon the fortunes of life 
of the larger animals. 
SURVEY OF FISHING GROUNDS. 
It was expected that the examination of the fishing banks off the 
coasts of Washington and Oregon, which was begun in the preceding 
fiscal year, would be reinstituted early in July, but the Albatross, 
which had been used for the purpose, was unexpectedly detained in 
Alaska and could not commence the work until August 27, and the 
onset of stormy weather caused it to be discontinued on September 10. 
The interval between July 1 and the beginning of the Albatross 
operations was occupied in conducting the investigations by means 
of chartered boats operating from the shore. The results of the 
survey were very satisfactory, several new small halibut grounds 
being discovered and a previously little known bank off Newport, 
Oreg., being thoroughly examined. It was found that halibut were 
present in this region in paying quantities through at least part of 
the year, and, in consequence of the investigation, the attention of 
the fishermen was attracted to this fact, and a small but profitable 
fishery was inaugurated. The activities of the fishermen thereby 
induced in this region have resulted in the discovery of other grounds, 
particularly one lying off the mouth of the Columbia River in an 
area between the zones covered by the Albatross survey. It is not 
expected that the banks already discovered, and probably not those 
which may be found in the future, will in any way equal in extent 
and productiveness those in Alaska, but there appears to be no doubt 
that they can furnish a considerable supply of fish readily accessible 
to the primary markets. In June, 1915, about 40 per cent of the 
halibut landed at Seattle came from these grounds. The deficiency 
of funds made it impossible to undertake this survey when the 
weather was favorable in the spring of 1915, but at the close of 
the fiscal year the Albatross was under orders to proceed with the 
work as soon as possible after the first of July. 
During the preceding fiscal year the Bureau published an economic 
circular calling attention to the opportunities for a large blackfish 
fishery offshore from North and South Carolina. While the black- 
fish grounds are very productive they are very restricted in area. 
During the past fiscal year the Bureau has detailed the steamer Fish 
Hawk to continue the survey with the object of determining the full 
extent of the grounds. The survey was in progress at the close of 
the fiscal year. Through the assistance of the Bureau of Lighthouses 
