[7] THE STATUS OF THE FISH COMMISSION. ll-ifj 



cate that much of the coast work of the Fish Commission could be 

 more effectively accomplished by small vessels navigated by skillful 

 fishermen than by large steamers with their more coini)lic;)ted rent inc. 



5. RESULTS OF INQTTTRY INTO CAUSES OF FISHERY DETERIORATION. 



The investigation of the statistics and history of the fisheries has per- 

 hai>s assumed greater proportions than was at first contemplated. One 

 of the immediate causes of the establishment of the Commission was 

 the dissension between the line and net fishermen of Southern New 

 England Avith loference to hiws for the protection of the deteriorating 

 fisheries of that region. The first work of Professor Baird, as Commis- 

 sioner, was to investigate the causes of this deterioration. 



Each year increasing attention has been paid to this subject. The 

 Commissioner lias never advised any legislation on the part of the Gen- 

 eral Government, each State government having control over the fish 

 eries in its o w i waters. Certain general conclusions concerning the effect 

 of the fisheries upon the abundance of aquatic animals, seem to meet 

 with general acceptance in the United States. 



The important distinction between the extermination of a species, even 

 in a restricted locality, and the destruction of a fishery, fihonldhe noticed. 

 The former is somewhat unusual, and seemingly impossible in the case 

 of oceanic species, while the latter, especially for limited regions, is 

 almost of yearly occurrence. 



1. Aquatic mammals, like seals, may be entirely exterminated, espe- 

 cially when, like the fur-seals, they forsake the water and occupy the 

 land for breeding purposes. The fur-seals of our Pacific coast are nearly 

 gone, except upon the Prybilov Islands of Alaska, where they are pro- 

 tected by the General Government, the Islands being leased to a com- 

 pany, which is allowed to kill only 100,000 each year, these being non- 

 breeding males, and the permanence of this fishery thus being perfectly 

 secured. 



2. Aquatic mammals which do not leave the water, such as whales 

 and manatees, conspicuous on account of their size, and not capable of 

 rapid multiplication, may be practically exterminated when thej breed 

 near the shore. As examples, may be cited the cases of the Arctic sea- 

 cow of the North Pacific, Rhytina Stelleri, and the Pacific gray-whale, 

 or devil-fish, lihachimiectes glaucus, the tale of whose destruction in the 

 lagoons of California may be found in Scammon's Marine Mammals of 

 the Pacific Coast. 



3. In the case of fixed animals, like the sponge, the mussel, the clam, 

 and the oyster, the colonies or beds may be practically exterminated, 

 exactly as a forest maybe cut down. The destruction of the oyster beds 

 of Pocomoke Sound, in Maryland, a large estuary, formerly very pro- 

 ductive, is an example — the destruction being due Jiiore directly to the 

 choking of the beds by the rubbish raked over them by the dredges, 

 ^ud the destruction of the ledges suitable for the reception ofthe;7oun§ 



