REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 1385 
methods of capture; but, whatever may be the circumstances, there is 
no warrant for destroying any product which is the common property 
of a country. It would, therefore, seem advisable to institute a system 
of inspection, by scientific experts, which could determine periodically 
such facts as might be considered necessary as a basis for regulations, 
the expenses to be met, if need be, by a slight taxupon the fishery. By 
paying proper attention to the habits of a species, by prescribing the 
methods of capture or by limiting the amount of catch, the source of the 
industry can readily be maintained and its permanency insured. The 
justice of’ such provisions are undeniable, and those who are directly 
interested in the fishery and must profit by its permanence should be the 
first to recognize its necessity. An inflexible system of police super- 
vision is not adequate to accomplish this purpose. There is a natural 
fluctuation in the fish supply, and the conditions which surround it 
vary more or less from time to time. 
Considering the present abundant stock of salmon in Alaska, and 
the possibility of preserving it from destruction, it seems unnecessary 
to bring up the subject of artificial propagation as a means of maintain- 
ing or increasing the supply. Should a resort to such measures become 
necessary at any time, however, it would not be difficult to find proper 
sites for hatching-stations, or to obtain the eggs in sufficient quantities 
from the fish captured for canning or salting purposes; but at present 
a system of protection seems most judicious and expedient. 
WYOMING. 
The Yellowstone National Park.—Two investigations have been made 
in the Yellowstone National Park within the past two years, the first 
by Dr. David S. Jordan and Prof. Charles H. Gilbert, during Sep- 
tember and October, 1889, the second by Prof. S. A. mbEhes and Prof. 
Edwin Linton, ee g Fak and August, 1890. These inquiries were 
instituted chiefly for the purpose of obtaining information to be used 
in connection with the stocking of certain of the streams and lakes with 
fishes, a measure which had previously been determined upon by the 
Fish Commissioner. A peculiarity of the park is the small variety of 
fishes which inhabit it and the entire absence of fish life over a very large 
area. The park is drained by tributaries of both the Mississippi and 
the Columbia rivers, being traversed toward the southwest by the con- 
tinental divide, which extends in a general northwest and southeast 
direction. The streams which are devoid of fishes form several small, 
distinct basins, in each of which it is proposed to plant only one or two 
Species, and at the time of writing this report considerable progress 
had ‘been made in this direction. Under the conditions which there 
exist not only may all suitable waters become replete with fishes, but 
itis expected that the results will afford an interesting study in aceli- 
mation, owing to the isolation of the different forms. 
