THE WORK OF THE PENNSYLVANIA 

 FISH COMMISSION 



By N. R. Buller, Commissioner. 



The Department of Fisheries of the State of Pennsyl- 

 vania was organized under the provisions of the Act of 

 April 2, 1903. The act authorized the appointment of a 

 Commissioner of Fisheries and four other citizens of the 

 Commonwealth, who together should constitute the Fish- 

 eries Commission. It also authorized the appointment 

 of a clerk and stenographer and the Department was 

 empowered to take charge of all hatching and fish cul- 

 tural stations in this Commonwealth. 



The duties of the Department of Fisheries are to pro- 

 vide for the protection and propagation of fish and to 

 promote and encourage the development of the fishery 

 interests; to obtain and publish information respecting 

 the extent and conditions of the fisheries of the Common- 

 wealth; and to make rules and regulations for the en- 

 forcement of all laws designed for the protection, exten- 

 sion and propagation of fish. 



The Commissioner of Fisheries is the president and 

 executive officer of the Fisheries Commission, and is also 

 chief superintendent of all hatching stations and fish 

 cultural establishments now existing or which may here- 

 after be established. He has full control, direction and 

 management of all fish wardens, or water bailiffs, and 

 of the work of the enforcement of the laws relating to 

 the protection, propagation and distribution of fish. All 

 fish wardens, constables, police, sheriffs and guardians 

 of the peace, are required to make prompt report to him 

 of all cases of violation of the laws relating to fish. 



The Department has under its control six hatcheries 

 which are devoted to the hatching and propagation of 

 fish. These establishments are located in Erie, Centre, 



Note — A portion of an address delivered before the Third Pennsyl- 

 vania Welfare, Efficiency and Engineering Conference held at Harris- 

 burg, November, 1915. 



