1142 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4] 



sophical interpretation of the law. In making his original plans the 

 Commissioner insisted that to study only the food-fishes would be of little 

 importance, and that useful conclusions must needs rest upon a broad 

 foundation of investigations purely scientific in character. The life his- 

 tory of species of economic value should be understood from beginning 

 to end, but no less requisite is it to know the histories of the animals and 

 plants upon which they feed or upon which their food is nourished ; the 

 histories of their enemies and friends and the friends and foes of their 

 enemies and friends, as well as the currents, temperatures, and other 

 physical phenomena of the waters in relation to migration, reproduction, 

 and growth. A necessary accompaniment to this division is the amass- 

 ing of material for research to be stored in the National and other mu- 

 seums for future use. 



2. The investigation of the methods of fisheries, past and present, 

 and the statistics of production and commerce in fishery products. 

 Man being one of the cbief destroyers of fish, his influence upon their 

 abundance must be studied. Fishery methods and apparatus must be 

 examined and compared wi1?li those of other lands, that the use of those 

 which threaten the destruction of useful fishes may be discouraged, and 

 that those which are inefiicient may be replaced by others more serv- 

 iceable. Statistics of industry and trade must be secured for the use 

 of Congress in making treaties or imposing tariffs, to show to producers 

 the best markets, and to consumers where and with what their needs 

 may be supplied. 



3. The introduction and multiplication of useful food-fishes through- 

 out the country, especially in waters under the jurisdiction of the Gen- 

 eral Government, or those common to several States, none of which 

 might feel willing to make expenditures for the benefit of the others. 

 This work, which was not contemi)lated when the Commission was es- 

 tablished, was first undertaken at the instance of the American Fish 

 Cultural Association, whose representatives induced Congress to make 

 a special appropriation for the i)urpose. This appropriation has since 

 been renewed every year on an increasingly bountiful scale, and the 

 propagation of fish is at present by far the most extensive branch of the 

 work of the Commission, both in respect to number of men employed 

 and quantity of money expended. 



The origin of the Commission, its purposes, and methods of organiza- 

 tion, having been described, it now remains to review the accomplished 

 results of its work. In many departments, especially that of direct re- 

 search, most efficient services have been rendered by volunteers; in 

 fact, a large share of what has been accomplished in biological and 

 j>hysical exploration is the result of unpaid labor on the part of some 

 of the most skillful American specialists. Although I should be glad to 

 review the peculiar features of the work of each investigator, the limits 

 of this paper will not allow ine even to mention them by name 



