REPORT 



Off THE 



PRINCIPAL FISHERIES OF THE MERICAxN SEAS: 



BY LORENZO SABINE. 



Custom-house, Boston, 

 Collector's Office, December 10, 1852. 



Sir : I transmit herewith a report on the fisheries, by Lorenzo 

 Sabine, esq., whicli lie has prepared for the department. 

 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



P. GREELY, Jr., 



Collector. 

 Hon. Thomas Cokwin, 



Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. 



Framingham, December 6, 1S52. 



Sir : I submit herewith the report which I have prepared, in ac- 

 cordance with 3^our instructions of the 2d of February last. 



More than twenty years have elapsed since I formed the design of 

 writing a work on the American fisheries, and commenced collecting 

 materials for the purpose. My intention embraced the whale fishery 

 of our flag in distant seas; the fisheries of our own coasts, lakes, and 

 rivers, as well as those which we prosecute within British jurisdiction, 

 under treaty stipulations ; and the fisheries of the Indian tribes within 

 the hmits of the United States. That a part of my plan has now 

 been executed, is owing entirely to the interest and zeal which you 

 have manifested in the undertaking. 



Our first intervi(!w upon the subject was caused by a communication 

 to you from the Treasury Department, in which the Secretary con- 

 veyed a request that a report of hmited size should be furnished fi-om 

 your own office. During our conversation, you expressed a. desire to 

 look over my collection of documents and state-papers, and they were 

 accordingly deposited with you for examin;ition. On returning them 

 to me, you were ple;ised to give a favorabh^ opinion of their vahie, and 

 to say that you would at once suggest and recommend to Mr. Corwin 

 the expediency of employing m(; to write a paper somewhat more 

 elaborate than he had contemplated. 



Subscijuently, you announced to me that \\ir Secretary promptly 

 adopted your views, and submitted the whole matter to your discrclion. 



