10 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Some of the trout Hatched from eggs sent by the Bureau in 1904 have 

 been found spawning- under natural conditions, Avhile a brood stock 

 reared from other eggs of the same shipment has become reproductive 

 under domestication. 



Eggs of whitefish, lake herring, chinook salmon, land-locked sal- 

 mon, and lake trout, to the number of 3,560,000 in all, were shipped 

 to New Zealand, where some species have been successfull}- introduced 

 from other countries, and where the Government is taking active 

 measures to acclimatize other valuable American fishes. These eggs 

 were collected, packed, and transported at the expense of the New 

 Zealand government. 



In this connection attention is drawn to the Secretary's communica- 

 tion to Congress on February 14, 1906 (House Doc. No. 626, Fifty- 

 ninth Congress, tirst session), in which is stated the importance of the 

 exchange of fish and fish eggs with foreign countries, and request is 

 made for express authority to continue the practice. The Secretary 

 urgentl}^ recommended that the following clause be enacted bj^ Con- 

 gress, either as an independent act or as a part of the act making appro- 

 priations for the Bureau of Fisheries: 



That the Secretary of Commerce and Labor is hereby authorized, in his discretion, 

 to donate to foreign governments, upon official requests received from them, living 

 fish and other water animals and their eggs, and preserved specimens thereof, when 

 compliance with such requests will tend to promote such cordial relations between 

 the Bureau of Fisheries and such foreign governments, or their fisheries depart- 

 ments, as will increase the efficiency of the Bureau of Fisheries. 



As stated by the Secretar}^ the introduction into United States 

 waters of a number of new water animals is now under consideration 

 by the Bureau and wnll necessitate the invoking of assistance and 

 cooperation from foreign governments. The early passage of this 

 legislation is therefore greatly desired. 



NEW STATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 



Notwithstanding manj^ difficulties involved in the construction of 

 the salmon hatchery in Alaska, which was undertaken in 1905 in 

 accordance with an act of March 3 of that year, the work progressed 

 sufficiently to make possible the taking of eggs that season. Besides 

 a hatchery building with capacity for 25,000,000 eggs, there have been 

 erected living quarters and office for the employees, a mess house, a 

 storehouse, and landing piers. Only about one-half of the special 

 appropriation for the establishment of this station has been used, and 

 work upon a second station will be undertaken at an early date. 



Improvements and repairs to stations during the year included the 

 purchase of land and buildings at Bozeman, Mont.; a new hatcheiy 

 building and a new dam at Battle Creek, Cal.; the completion of some 

 6 miles of wagon road and the construction of a sawmill and new pipe 



