Radcliffe. — Division of Fishery Industries 111 



INTRODUCTION OF USEFUL FOREIGN METHODS 



Detailed scientific investigations as to the preservation of 

 nets, the development of new methods, and improvements in 

 old ones have largely been conducted by Norwegian technol- 

 ogists. The only preservative used to any great extent by our 

 own fishermen is tar, and its use is confined largely to the 

 coarser kinds of nets. The value of the fishing apparatus used 

 by fishermen in the United States exceeds fifteen million dol- 

 lars, a very considerable part of which consists of lines and 

 nets. It is therefore evident that the introduction of useful 

 foreign methods which will materially lengthen the life of 

 nets, gives promise of efifecting large economies in the ex- 

 penditures for fishing gear. 



One of the Bureau's technologists has recently translated all 

 the important articles in Norwegian on the subject, and has in 

 press a paper summarizing the important principles and methods 

 of applying preservatives developed in Norway and other coun- 

 tries. 



COLLECTION OF STATISTICS 



One of the most important functions of the Division of 

 Fishery Industries has to do with the making of statistical 

 inventories and the dissemination of statistical information 

 for the use of the trade. Such information is also of value as 

 showing the trend of the fisheries, the need for and the re- 

 sults of fish-cultural practices, and the need for more ade- 

 quate protection to properly safeguard the fishery harvests of 

 the future. It shows the areas of greatest production and 

 provides a permanent record for governmental use. Recent 

 canvasses of the fisheries of the Pacific coast states, the Great 

 Lakes, the south Atlantic states and the Gulf states have been 

 made, in addition to the collection regularly of the statistics of 

 the vessel fisheries centering at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., 

 Portland, Me., and Seattle, Wash., and the completion of 

 statistics regarding various minor fisheries. A canvass of the 

 fisheries of the New England states is now in progress. 



