xx REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
great mortality among the fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. No report, 
however, has as yet been received upon this subject. Very effective aid 
in many ways was rendered by the Light-House Board. 
Railroads.—TYhe railroads of the country have continued to render a 
very important help in facilities extended to the messengers of the 
Commission in carrying fish throughout the country. As heretofore, 
all, called upon for the service, have issued orders to conductors and 
other employés to allow the messengers of the Commission to carry 
their fish-cans in baggage cars, with free access to them; also instruct- 
ing them to allow the messengers to check empty cans as baggage to 
destination. To the Baltimore and Ohio, the Pennsylvania, and the 
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore special acknowledgments are 
due for carrying, free of expense, a large number of packages contain- 
ing the exhibit for the Berlin Exposition. 
The railroads, also, between Boston and Bangor carried a car-load of 
shad and its accompanying messengers free of expense. 
Steamship lines.—To the foreign steamship companies the Commission 
is indebted for important service, especially to the North German 
Lloyds, which transported the entire fishery exhibit for Berlin from New 
York and from Baltimore to Bremen and back without any charge, the 
bulk amounting to nearly 12,000 cubic feet. It also, on several occa- 
sions, transported packages of eges of fish tended. for Germany and 
had them placed under the ppeorit care of the captain and steward. 
A similar courtesy in the matter of transportation of fish-eggs was 
rendered by the French Transatlantic Steamship Company, by diree- 
tion of its agent, Mr: Louis de Bebian. 
District Commission—Valuable help was received on various ocea- 
sions from the engineer department of the District Commission, espe- 
cially in connection with the laying out and construction of the carp 
ponds, of which Lieutenant Hoxie kindly accepted the direction. 
4.—COURTESIES RENDERED BY THE COMMISSION TO FOREIGN 
COUNTRIES. 
The applications from foreign countries for fish have continued to 
increase, and have always been met as far as possible. The exchange 
of courtesies between nations, looking towards their mutal benefit, 
greatly to be encouraged; and although, so far as fish are seen 
the United States has perhaps more to give than to receive, it is none 
the less incumbent upon her to do what may be possible towards im- 
proving the food resources of other portions of the world. 
Germany.—It is with Germany that the relationships in question fave 
been most extended and are practically most mutual, she giving as well 
as feceiving. In response to Herr Schuster, burgomaster at Freiberg, 
a number of eggs of the California salmon were forwarded from New 
York in apparatus of transportation specially furnished by him. A 
large number of eggs of the same species were also sent to Herr von 
Behr, president of the Deutsche Vischerei- Verein, and reached their des- 
