REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXI 

 NEW TRANSPORTATION CAR. 



The new stations which have been placed in operation during tlie 

 last two or three years, and the consequent increase in the output of 

 the Commission, liave rendered necessary an increase of transportation 

 facilities to distribute the greater quantity of fishes now available. 

 Under the authority of an act of Congress approved March 3, 1899, 

 a contract was made with the Jackson & Sharp Comi)any, of Wil- 

 mington, Del., to build a fish-transportation car to replace the old one 

 known as car No. 4. The new car is supplied with all the appliances 

 and conveniences which experience has shown to be essential, and 

 is similar in construction, dimensions, and arrangement to car No. 3, 

 described on page xxxvi of the report for 1898. It is, however, some- 

 what higher than No. 3, being 14 feet over all. Bolted to the side sills 

 and running the full length of the car is a plating of steel ^ inch thick, 

 8^ inches wide, and 60 feet long. The car is equipped with standard 

 steel platforms and national combination couplers, and Pullman trucks 

 with 38-inch wheels. The car formerly known as No. 4 is simply a 

 baggage car arranged with sleeping quarters and circulating apparatus, 

 and could only be used as an auxiliary, and, on account of its age, lack 

 of facilities, and structural weakness, was not available for long trips. 



EXPOSITIONS. 



The Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition at Omaha, Nebr., 

 in which this Commission participated, and which was in progress at 

 the close of the fiscal year, terminated November 1, 1898. The exhibit 

 of the Commission was described in the report for 1898, page xxxvii, 

 and was similar in its scope and plan to those shown at the Atlanta and 

 Nashville expositions, reports of which have already been published. 

 The exhibit was in charge of Mr. W. de C. Ravenel, and was designed to 

 illustrate the work of the different branches of the Commission. As at 

 former expositions, the display attracted favorable attention and com- 

 ment from visitors. 



The Commission was awarded five bronze medals and five diplomas 

 for an "interesting and instructive exhibit," for "fish-culture," for " sta- 

 tistics of fisheries," for "live-fish display," and for "scientific inquiry." 

 A medal and dijiloma were also awarded to each of the following per- 

 sons for valuable services rendered to the Exposition in connection with 

 the exhibit of the Commission: George M. Bowers, W. de C. Eavenel, 

 Hugh M. Smith, S. P. Bartlett, Frank N. Clark, E. A. Tulian, H. D. 

 Dean, E. F. Locke, G. A. Schneider, E. J. Conway, W. P. Sauerhoff. 



Under the authority of an act of Congress approved March 3, 1899, 

 providing for the participation of the Government in the Pan-American 

 Exposition, to be held in Erie or Niagara County, N. Y., in 1901, Mr. 

 Eavenel was appointed, on April 28, 1899, the representative of this 

 Commission on the Government board of managers. 



