XVIII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



There is a great demand also for additional stations for the propaga- 

 tion of shad, which, like those just mentioned, will receive due consid- 

 eration whenever practicable. In the foot-notes will be found some 

 letters of interest which bear upon this general subject. 



4. — VESSELS OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 

 A. — The Steamer Albatross. 



The steamer Albatross, under the direction of Lieut.-Commander Z. 

 L. Tanner, U. S. l!favy, continues to work very satisfactorily in connec- 

 tion with the objects of the Commission. 



Her services as a fishing vessel not being required during the winter, 

 a request from the Navy Department that she be employed in hydro- 

 graphic work in the Caribbean Sea was considered and approved, with 

 the agreement that all the expenses of the voyage were to be met by the 

 Department and the vessel returned to the Commission at the Wash- 

 ington navy-yard exactly in the same condition as when she left; and 

 with the understanding also that a reasonable amount of time should be 

 devoted to the prosecution of deep-sea research. The steamer proceeded 

 accordingly from Washington to the Norfolk navy-yard, sailing thence 

 direct for Saint Thomas on the 10th of January, 1884, arriving there on 

 the 17th ; starting again on January 24, a series of soundings was com- 

 menced, to extend from Santa Cruz to Porto Eico, as also to the Aves 



Victoria, B. C, January 19, 1884. 



Dear Sir : Your kind favors of December 17 concerning lobsters, 

 &c., and also one of January 9 in regard to salmon hatching trays, 

 are to hand, for which please accept my thanks for yoift- valuable in- 

 formation. I shall be most happy to write Mr. Eedclifif on the subject. 



The inspector of fisheries spoke to me to-day about the matter of es- 

 tablishing a joint hatchery on the headwaters of the Columbia River, 

 in order to increase the supply of the Columbia Eiver catch and intro- 

 duce the Columbia Eiver salmon into the Fraser Eiver. I should think 

 the matter could easily be arranged, as the Shuswap Lake and the north 

 branch of the Columbia Eiver are only 25 miles distant via Eagle Pass. 

 This will be a short distance to carry fry when once the railroad is com- 

 pleted. 



The Governments would have to arrange this matter, and I think it 

 would be an advantage on both sides to have it done. 

 Yours very respectfully, 



THOMAS MOW AT. 



Livingston Stone, Esq. 



Senate Chamber, Washington, B. C, February 5, 1884. 

 Sir : I beg leave to ask your favorable consideration of a suggestion 

 that you send a vessel to Florida during the present month and estab- 

 lish, at such place as shall be best suited, a station for hatching shad, 

 in some of the waters of Florida. This is the spawning season, and 



