REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LVII 



Clark hatching-box in preference to other apparatus brought to his at- 

 tention. 



Mr. Henry Grosjean was sent bj tlie French department of agri- 

 culture to study up several subjects. He paid particular a,ttention to 

 the work of the Fish Commission, and on his return to France pre- 

 pared an elaborate report to the minister. 



12. — PROVISION FOR THE EVENT OF DISABILITY OF THE COMMISSIONER. 



In view of there beiug no provision of law by which the functions 

 of the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries could be exercised, in case 

 of his absence or disability, an act was passed by Congress, and ap- 

 proved March 3, 1883, to remedy this defect. 



In pursuance of this authority Mr. T. B. Ferguson was designated 

 as Assistant Commissioner on the 7th of July, and a letter was trans- 

 mitted to the Secretary of the Treasury notifying him of the fact. 



B.— INQUIET INTO THE HISTOEY AND STATISTICS OF FOOD 



FISHES. 



13. — THE INVESTIGATION OF THE MENHADEN FISHERY BY THE SEN- 

 ATE COMMITTEE. 



The appointment of a subcommittee of the Senate to investigate 

 the subject of the menhaden fishery was chronicled in the report of 

 1882, and a r6sum6 given therein of what was accomplished, leaving 

 the work to be continued in 1883. 



The investigation was appointed to begin between the 20th of June 

 and the 4th of July, with sessions at Atlantic City, Asbury Park, Long 

 Branch, and Brighton Beach, and the Commissioner was invited to ac- 

 company the committee either personally or by proxy. 



Mr. Marshall McDonald was accordingly designated to represent the 

 Fish Commission, and on July 11 wrote from Cape May that the in- 

 vestigation had commenced, the three Senators being present. Senator 

 Sewell and several representative men of New Jersey were also there 

 to testify. The committee had asked for the use of the Fish Hawk, but 

 as she was engaged in Spanish mackerel and oyster work it was not 

 found possible to divert her from that duty. Later the committee pro- 

 ceeded to Portland, Me., where the last session was held July 25. 

 On the way to Portland several sessions- were held in Boston. On the 

 4th of October Senator Lapham applied for the steamer Lookout, with 

 which to reopen the investigation in the Chesapeake. He was accord- 

 ingly met by Mr. McDonald at Fortress Monroe October 12, where 

 they established their headquarters, and, with the aid of the Lookout, 

 visited the menhaden factory of Darby & Smithers at Back Eiver, and 

 other i3oints. The testimony taken by the committee has been pub- 

 lished by order of the Senate. 



