8 THE FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



cellent leathers ; the scales of certain fishes are employed in the preparation 

 of pearl essence for the manufacture of artificial pearls; oyster shells are 

 ground and used for poultry feeds, liming soil, road-building, etc. ; the 

 fresh-water pearl mussel shells are the basis of the highly important pearl 

 button industry ; shark fins are dried for the oriental trade ; and various 

 other resources of the fisheries are employed for use in the arts and indus- 

 tries. The value of the by-products in 1921 exceeded $8,000,000, and of 

 miscellaneous products was approximately equal. 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The United States Congress passed a joint resolution approved Feb- 

 ruary 9, 1871, providing for the appointment of a Commissioner of Fish 

 and Fisheries, who was directed to conduct investigations concerning the 

 facts and the causes of the alleged diminution in value and importance 

 of the fisheries and the feasibility of remedial measures. This represents 

 the beginning of one of the earliest and most effective conservation move- 

 ments undertaken by the Federal Government. Prior to July i, 1903, 

 the establishment was independent, reporting directly to Congress, and 

 was known as the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, but, 

 on the organization of the Department of Commerce, it was included by 

 law in the new department and the name was changed to its present 

 designation, the United States Bureau of Fisheries. 



The original conception of the bureau was a body for scientific, sta- 

 tistical, and practical investigation of the fisheries, and these phases of its 

 work always have been prominent. By an act approved June 10, 1872, 

 authority was given for the propagation of food fishes, a branch of the 

 service which has grown until it constitutes a large part of the bureau's 

 activities. Without administrative or executive control, except in the 

 administration of the laws regarding Alaska fish and certain fur-bearing 

 animals, and the sponge fisheries on the high seas off the coast of Florida, 

 the bureau, acting in an advisory capacity has been able to exert a pow- 

 erful influence on the fisheries legislation of the States. 



There is in charge of the bureau's work the Commissioner of Fish and 

 Fisheries and the deputy commissioner, the work of the bureau being 

 organized into divisions, each with an assistant in charge, as follows : 



Division of Administration. This division exercises supervision of the 

 accounting office, office of the architect and engineer, the vessels of the 

 bureau, the library, records, correspondence, and property. It. is re- 

 sponsible for the purchase, maintenance, and repair of all vessels and 

 boats, and for accounting relative to appropriations and property. 



Division of Fishery Industries. The important functions of this divi- 

 sion in its relations with the commercial fisheries include the following: 

 (i) Studies of the methods of conducting fishing operations for the 

 purpose of effecting improvements and revealing the use of 

 destructive or unprofitable methods; 



