120 PROBLEMS IN WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



essentially a national matter and that the federal govern- 

 ment alone could undertake and manage it efficiently. 



After this first appropriation for fish cultural work, Con- 

 gress in the years that followed increased the amount spent 

 for this purpose very rapidly, in 1876 to $3O,ooo, 11 in 1882 

 to $i45,ooo, 12 and by 1887 at the close of Baird's term of 

 office to $i6i,ooo. 13 During this same period appropria- 

 tions for scientific work had expanded very slowly and by 

 1887 totaled only $20,000. In 1882 an appropriation was 

 made for the construction and maintenance of a railroad 

 fish-distribution car. 14 The following year another car was 

 provided for in the appropriation act. 15 



The act of that year also made provision for the erection 

 of a fish-culture station at Woods Hole 16 which later be- 

 came famous as a headquarters for aquatic research. Fish 

 cultural stations were also established in various parts of 

 the country during the period 1883-87 in large measure in 

 answer to local demands. 17 



A new type of work was undertaken in 1880. The Com- 

 missioner of Fish and Fisheries was charged with the task 

 of collecting fishery statistics on the Great Lakes and the 

 seacoast, 18 especially statistics of the fish mentioned in the 

 treaty with Great Britain in 1871 which included 19 virtually 

 all species except shell fish. 



11 19 Stat. L. 117. 12 22 Stat. L. 332. 



13 25 Stat. L. 521. i* 22 Stat. L. 332. 



15 22 Stat. L. 628. 



16 Note spelling in act Woods Holl, although in later acts always 

 Woods Hole. 



17 Smith, Hugh, The United States Bureau of Fisheries, from Bulletin 

 of the Bureau, vol. 28 (1909), p. 1382. The acts of those year curiously 

 enough make specific appropriations for the maintenance of the carp 

 ponds in Washington, D. C. 



18 21 Stat. L. 150. i 17 Stat. L. 863. 



