176 



INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF OCEANOGRAPHY 



that would make its own findings effective. This 

 was in part acoompUshed by the Act approved 

 June 10, 1872, which gave authority for the propa- 

 gation of food fisiies, a branch of the service which 

 has grown until at present it constitutes an 

 important part of the bureau's activities. 

 Scope of activities: As now constituted, the Bureau is 

 concerned with the wise husbandry of our fishery 

 resources. Its work includes the collection of 

 biological and statistical data to reveal the 

 condition and trend of our important fisheries, 

 the development of the science of aquiculture, the 

 propagation and distribution of food and game 

 fishes to replenish the natural supply, the conduct 

 of economic and technological studies to assure 

 maximum utilization of fishery products and 

 by-products, the protection of the sponge fishery 

 off the coast of Florida, the protection and 

 conservation of the salmon and other fisheries 

 of Alaska, the administration of the fur seal herd 

 on the Pribilof Islands, and enforcement of the 

 Act of July 2, 1930, regulating the interstate 

 transportation of black bass. Acting in an 

 advisory capacity, the Bureau has been able to 

 exert a powerful influence on the fishery legisla- 

 tion of the States. Local authorities and interests 

 hold its work in high regard and, appreciating 

 that its advice is authoritative and disinterested, 

 frequently seek it. The Bureau is also repre- 

 sented on Commissions having to do with inter- 

 national fisheries questions of con.serving the 

 supply of aquatic animal life. 



The scientific work of the Bureau is conducted 

 by the staff of the Division of Scientific Inquiry, 

 and the information presented below refers pri- 

 marily to that Division. The research program 

 is divided into three major branches: (1) Com- 

 mercial fishery investigations, relating to varia- 

 tions in the supply of important food fishes and 

 the causes of such variations, such as may be 

 found in the life history of the various species, 

 their ecological relationships, including the effects 

 of commercial fishing and changes in their en- 

 vironment which involves a limited program of 

 oceanographic research ; (2) Shellfishery Investiga- 

 tions, including studies on the physiology and 

 ecology of oysters and other shellfish and the 

 practical problems of oyster farming; and (3) 

 Aquicultural Investigations, including the feed- 

 ing, breeding, and rearing of food and game 

 fishes; the survey and improvement of streams, 

 and the development of an effective policy of 



stocking interior waters and overcoming the 

 effects of pollution of streams. 

 Equipment: Fisheries Biological Laboratory and 

 Hatchery, Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Labora- 

 tory and hatchery building, three floors, contain- 

 ing marine fish hatchery, public aquarium and 

 exhibit room, offices, general laboratory with 

 alcoves, private research rooms, chemical labora- 

 tories, stock room, dark room, and library. 

 Residence building, three floors; power house 

 and storage building. Dock, breakwater, boat 

 harbor, etc. Running salt water supply. One 

 diesel driven research boat, 45 feet long, with 

 live well and hoisting equipment; two 26 foot 

 launches; row boats. 



Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Beaufort, N. C. 

 Laboratory building, two floors, containing main 

 laboratory with alcoves, private research rooms, 

 chemical laboratory, exhibit room, offices, library, 

 dark room, stock rooms, etc., and 12 dormitory 

 rooms. Mess hall; power house; boat house; 

 carpenter shop; residence; dock; 46 foot motor 

 cruiser, 35 and 26 foot launches; numerous row 

 boats. Circulating salt water supply. 



Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Fairport, Iowa 

 (temporarily cIo.sed). Laboratory building, three 

 floors, including offices, exhibit room, private 

 research rooms, chemical laboratories, dormitories, 

 library, and dining rooms. Tank house, power 

 house, carpenter shop, boat house, 5 residence 

 buildings, and 2 river launches. Approximately 

 15 acres of earthen and concrete ponds supplied 

 with river and well water. 



Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Seattle, Wash- 

 ington. Laboratory building, three floors, con- 

 taining offices, private research rooms, chemical 

 laboratories and stock room, photographic rooms, 

 and library. 40 foot motor launch. 



Experimental Fish Cultural Station, Pittsford, 

 Vermont. Hatchery building, small laboratory 

 building, residence and accessory buildings, ponds 

 and raceways for experimental trout cidture. 



Experimental Fish Cultural Station, Leetown, 

 West Virginia. Large hatchery and laboratory 

 building, including offices, library, dark room, 

 research rooms, and biological laboratory. Shop 

 and storage building, residences, numerous ponds 

 and raceways for experimental trout culture and 

 ponds for culture of bass and other warm water 

 fishes (approximately 60 acres when completed). 



Laboratories and offices well equipped for 

 experimental and statistical biological research 



