196 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, 
MISCELLANEOUS AFFAIRS OF THE DIVISION. 
Relations with the Census Office—With a view to secure the coopera- 
tion of the Fish Commission with the Census Office in taking a census 
of the fisheries and the subsequent preparation of reports thereon, 
as was done in the census of 1880, the Superintendent of Census, Hon. 
Robert P. Porter, in July, 1889, entered into communication with the 
Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, and on August 26, 1889, appointed 
Capt. J. W. Collins, assistant in charge of the Division of Fisheries, a 
special agent in charge of the fishery census. On December 18, 1889, 
Capt. Collins resigned this position, other official duties demanding his 
entire time. Close relations between the two bureaus were still main- 
tained, however; and, in response to requests from the Superintendent 
of Census, such data as the Fish Commission had collected were placed 
at the disposal of the Census Office. 
Treasury Circular, ‘Statistics of the Fisheries..—The purposes and 
provisions of this circular have been fully discussed in previous reports 
of the Commissioner and the division. Its operation began in Decem- 
ber, 1885, and continued in active force until October, 1890. During 
the five and a half years ending June 30, 1891, the number of cireulars 
received was 23,177, of which 4,649 were received in 1889-90 and 2,266 
in 1890-91; during the last six months of the fiscal year 1891 only 614 
circulars were forwarded to the office. The circumstances which led to 
the discontinuance of the circular are embraced in the following cor- 
respondence between the Fish Commission and the Treasury Depart- 
ment: 
{The Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries to the Secretary of the Treasury.] 
WASHINGTON, D. C., August 18, 1890. 
Sir: Permit me to call the attention of your Department to the fact that in certain 
customs districts the requirements of Treasury Circular, Statistics of the Fisheries 
(No. 45, Bureau of Navigation, series of 1887), are apparently being overlooked or 
disregarded, to the detriment of the work of this office. 
I have the honor to transmit a list giving the names of the customs districts that 
are derelict, together with such brief annotations as are thought necessary to show 
your Department the special conditions prevailing in each case. 
It should be stated that at one time all the districts in question were complying 
with the circular; but, for reasons unknown to this office, they have, for a greater 
or less length of time, ceased regarding it. 
I have to request that you will kindly have this matter brought to the attention 
of the collectors of the districts named, to the end that reports omitted in the past 
may be forwarded, and that in the future the requirements of the circular may be 
promptly and completely carried out. i 
I desire to improve this opportunity to convey to you an expression of the obliga- 
tion felt by the Fish Commission for the assistance given by your Department in 
the matter of collecting fishery statistics. I have pleasure in expressing my hearty 
appreciation of the faithful manner in which the work has generally been performed 
by customs officials, and it only needs the addition of the few links in the chain, which 
