A YEAR’S WORK OF THE FISHERIES INTEREST IN 
PENNSYLVANIA. 
BY W. E. MEEHAN, COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES, PENNSYLVANIA. 
Under an act of the legislature of Pennsylvania approved 
April 2, 1903, the Fish Commission of that commonwealth was 
abolished and in its place was created a Department of Fisheries. 
The Act went in to effeet on June 1, 1903, and with its begin- 
ning may be recorded a new era in fish cultural and fish protec- 
tive work in Pennsylvania. 
In abolishing the Fish Commission and in creating a De- 
partment of Fisheries no fault was found with the former. It 
had done good work in fish culture; but it was felt that the work 
of fish culture and fish protection had outgrown the system, and 
that greater effectiveness in both branches would be secured 
by making the change and placing the work under one 
responsible head. The old Fish Commission was composed of 
six members, three of whom have been retained under the new 
Act. By the change the fish work of Pennsylvania has been 
given greater importance. The head of the department being in 
effect. a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, with a rank equal to 
that of any other head of Department in the Government of the 
commonwealth. 
By the provisions of the Act creating the Department of 
Fisheries, there was an official termed the Commissioner of Fish- 
eries, and four citizens, who, together with the Commissioner of 
Fisheries, constitute an advisory board, known as a Fishery Com- 
mission. These four men are in effect members of a cabinet of 
the Commissioner and its work is as important as that of the 
Commissioner himself. The Commissioner receives a salary of 
$3,000 a year and his reasonable expenses. He is entitled to a 
clerk and stenographer. The clerk under the act is secretary of 
the Board of Fishery Commission. ‘The four members of the 
Board of Fishery Commission receive no salary, but are paid 
their reasonable expenses. The Board meets quarterly. 
The Commissioner of Fisheries, by virtue of his office, is 
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