70 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
fisheries and fishery resources of the United States as should in my judgment be 
made at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. 
Such an exhibit should not only be an exposition of our fishery resources, and of 
the present conditions, methods, and results of the fisheries, but should also show 
the origin, progress, present conditions, methods, and results of the inquiry in 
regard to food-fishes and the lishing-grounds—an inquiry which has been most fruit- 
_ ful in results, economic as well as scientific, and which has served as a model, a 
stimulus, and an inspiration to other nations seeking the best means for the utiliza- 
tion of the resources of their waters. 
The exhibit should show also the beginning and progress, as well as the present 
condition, of the commercial fisheries, and the development of methods, apparatus, 
vessels, and boats to meet the new conditions or exigencies arising from time to time. 
It should show the origin and development of public fish-culture in the United 
States, and the present conditions, methods, and results of the work of the U, 8. 
Fish Commission. 
The exhibit, in its essential features, would illustrate an industrial and economic 
evolution, probably as distinctively characteristic of the genius of our people as is 
the evolution of our social and political institutions. 
Detailed estimates, aggregating $150,000, were submitted as neces- 
sary to carry out the plans of the exhibit proposed, and an allotment 
of 40,000 feet of floor space indicated as requisite to provide for the 
convenient and proper display of the exhibit contemplated. In the 
estimates submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury provision was 
made for a limited aquarial display in the Government building, hav- 
ing for its object an exhibit of a series of the economic fishes of the 
country, more especially those which have been bred artificially for 
the purpose of stocking new waters or the improvement of the fisheries 
in those waters to which the species are indigenous, but which had 
been depleted by improvident fishing. 
The suggestion that an aquarial display was contemplated awakened 
general interest and commanded such approval and expectation that 
it was determined, if practicable, to enlarge greatly the plans first con- 
templated, and make an extensive and systematic exhibit of the water 
resources of our entire country, both marine and fresh. These plans 
required the erection of an expensive building with suitable plant for 
installation and maintenance. It was recognized that it was not proper 
to expect the General Government to appropriate so much money to a 
building for temporary uses. The subject was brought to the attention 
of the Director-General by the Commissioner of Fisheries, and the 
difficulties of the enterprise discussed. In view of the interest and 
instructiveness of the exhibit suggested, the directory of the Exposi- 
tion determined to erect a suitable building according to the plans of 
the Commissioner of Fisheries and to equip it with the necessary plant. 
The Government Board of Control and Management undertook, in con- 
janction and codperation with the Commissioner of Fisheries, to install 
and maintain the exhibit during the period of the Exposition. The 
display thus arranged for by the liberality of the management and the 
coéperation of the U.S. Fish Commission will doubtless be one of the 
most novel, attractive, and interesting features of the Exposition. 
