Fish CuUurists' Association. 35 



Much valuable information has been obtained in reference to the 

 fishery statistics, and the conditions affecting the fisheries generally', b}" 

 the labors of the United States Fish Commission, which continued its 

 investigations under the direction of Commissioner, Professor S. F. 

 Baird, assisted by Professor Verrill, on the coast of Maine during the 

 summer of 1873. Detailed information was obtained in reference to the 

 habits of the herring, cod, and other useful food fishes, which will have 

 an important bearing on these interests. Numerous questions in refer- 

 ence to the preservation and reproduction of lobsters and oysters were 

 also met. One result was the frequent capture of two-jear-old shad in 

 gillnets many miles out to sea. 



In connection with the subject of the fisheries, the modern methods of 

 preserving fresh fish for an indefinite period of time should not be lost 

 sight of, especially as their introduction has imparted immense activity 

 to the trade in fresh fish, and enables the dealers to suppl}^ salmon, shad, 

 Spanish mackerel, bluefish, striped bass, etc., at all seasons of the year. 



Of these devices there are two principally in use, one consisting in 

 placing the fish in sealed metal boxes in a mixture of ice and salt ; and 

 the other, much more convenient, being the construction of a chamber 

 enclosed within double walls, and filled with the same mixture. The 

 fish are placed in the centre apartment, the temperature of which can be 

 readily maintained at from eighteen to twent^^-five degrees above zero, 

 and are preserved indefinitely. It is only necessary to renew the suppl}' 

 of the mixture every week or month, according to the mass, and the 

 temperature above referred to can be kept up indefinitely. Some estab- 

 lishments in New York and elsewhere keep many thousand pounds of fish 

 in this way, subject to call at any time. 



The various methods of increasing artificially the supply of fish and 

 other marine animals, technically known as Pisciculture, have been prose- 

 cuted with increasing vigor during the year 1873, the earlier experiences 

 warranting the adoption of more enlarged plans for securing the desired 

 result. Associations have been formed, and State Commissioners 

 appointed, while numerous private establishments have been erected. • 

 The most important action in this direction is that taken by the United 

 States Fish Commission, established in 1871, which is now largely occu- 

 pied with this work, in addition to special researches in reference to the 

 condition of the fishing interest on the sea-coast and lakes. 



The measures adopted have had more special relation to the multipli- 

 cation of shad, salmon, and whitefish ; and in these operations the United 

 States Commission was fortunate in securing the assistance of Mr. Seth 

 Green, Dr. J. H. Slack, Mr. Livingston Stone, and other fish culturists. 

 Its operations have been conducted on a much larger scale than by any 

 other nation, and with very gratifying success. 



