THE FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 9 



(2) Development of improvements in the methods of handling, dis- 



tribution and marketing of fishery products ; 



(3) The conduct of technological investigations of the underlying 



scientific principles governing the preservation of fishery 

 products in order to standardize methods and effect improve- 

 ments and economy of operation; to develop new methods, 

 to discourage the use of unsatisfactory, wasteful or uneco- 

 nomical practices; to improve methods of preserving gear 

 and the like; 



(4) To introduce useful foreign methods or processes of capture, 



preservation, and utilization of fishery products ; 



(5) To collect statistics of the fisheries and fishery industries; 



(6) To increase the use of the by-products of the fisheries and the 



unutilized products of the sea; 



(7) To increase the demand for the little- used or neglected fishes 



and fishery products for food ; 



(8) To study and develop fishing grounds and fisheries for hitherto 



unutilized fishes. 



This division has in Washington, D. C., an excellently equipped fishery 

 products laboratory for the conduct of its technological investigations. 



Division of Fish Culture. This division has charge of all operations 

 connected with the artificial propagation, distribution, and rescue of 

 fishes. Its practical work in 1921 was conducted through 35 fish-cul- 

 tural stations and 65 field or substations, and 5 distribution railway cars, 

 with an aggregate output of approximately 5,000,000,000 fish and eggs. 

 Approximately 93 per cent of this output consisted, as heretofore, of the 

 salmon, shad, whitefish, pike perches, yellow perch, lake trout, cod, 

 pollock, and winter flounder, which constitute the more important 

 commercial species. 



Division of Inquiry Respecting Food Fishes. This division deals with 

 the biological, biochemical, and conservational problems of the fisheries 

 needful for the judicious exploitation and the means and conditions of 

 maintenance or possible increase of supplies. 



These investigations and experiments are conducted in the laboratory 

 in Washington, D. C., at two marine biological stations on the Atlantic 

 coast, one on the Gulf coast, and one fresh- water station in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, and through field parties. There are also one especially 

 equipped steamer for deep-sea investigations, one for coastal work, and 

 a number of smaller craft for inshore and river duty. An important 

 feature of the work is furnishing advice and facts relative to fisheries 

 legislation and administration. This division also conducts investiga- 

 tions and experiments tending directly to the increase of economic aquatic 

 animals, such as sponges, oysters, mussels, and terrapin. 



Alaska Fisheries and Fur-Seal Service. This service, which is under the 

 immediate charge of the Commissioner of Fisheries, consists of two 



