XXIV REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



at Boston and New York to admit fish and eggs free of duty from foreign 

 countries, and to afford every facility for the prompt and careful trans- 

 fer of these fish to the shore. 



UgUEouse ^o«r<i.— The Light-House Board, on March 19, granted to 

 the Commission the use of a room in the light-keeper's house at Battery 

 Station ; on April 28 it authorized the further use of the storage build- 

 ing at Wood's Holl, previously occupied by the Commission, and on 

 June 2 granted permission to take specimens of sea-lions from the 

 Farallon Islands. The Board has also continued to assist in taking 

 ocean temperature observations at about thirty-six of the light-houses 

 and light-ships most favorably located. 



Coast Survey. — The frequent calls upon the Coast Survey for tide- 

 tables, maps, and charts required for the use of the different vessels of 

 the Fish Commission have always been promptly complied with. 



Life-Saving Service. — The arrangement made by the Superintendent 

 of the Life-Saving Service for the telegraphic announcement to the 

 Smithsonian Institution of the stranding of marine animals, has con- 

 tinued to be i3roductive of important results, and the specimens ob- 

 tained have proved to be most valuable. 



War Department. — The Hon. Secretary of War, Eobert T. Lin- 

 coln, granted authority to occupy the fishing-shore at Fort Washington, 

 for the purpose of shad hatching, with the permission to use one of the 

 buildings at the fort as headquarters for the men. 



Signal Office. — General Hazen kindly furnished weather indications 

 by telegram to Wood's Holl during the summer season. He also re- 

 placed several broken thermometers for the use of light-house keepers 

 in taking temperature observations. 



Navy Department.— The officers and crews of all the vessels of the 

 Fish Commission have been furnished by the Navy Department during 

 the year, and all the facilities of the navy-yards, particularly that at 

 Washington, have been extended to the Commission. The Boston navy- 

 yard also lent to the Wood's Holl Station many needed tools. 



Bureau of Construction and Repair. — The chief of the Bureau author- 

 ized the use of an unfinished launch, which was completed and used by 

 the Commission in shad work on the Potomac Eiver. 



Bureau of Steam Engineering. — On March 13 Commodore Charles H. 

 Loring granted the loan of a steam-launch boiler and engine for the use 

 bf the uncompleted launch referred to above. 



Bureau of Equipment and Becruiting. — Coal was furnished the Fish 

 Commission vessels by navy-yards upon requisition, as in the preceding 

 year. 



Interior Department. — Patent Office. — The Commissioner of Pat- 

 ents has supplied the Fish Commission with the Official Gazette and 

 other information with reference to patents relating to fish and fishing 

 apparatus. 



