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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



physical problems they present, Commis- 

 sioner Baird insisted that to study only 

 the food-fishes would be of little impor- 

 tance, and that useful conclusions must 

 needs rest upon a broad foundation of in- 

 vestigations purely scientific in character. 

 The life history of species of economic 

 value should be understood from begin- 

 ning to end, but no less requisite is it to 

 know the histories of the animals and 

 plants upon which they feed or upon 

 which their food is nourished ; the his- 

 tory of their enemies and friends and the 

 friends and foes of their enemies and 

 friends, as well as the currents, tempera- 

 tures, and other physical phenomena of 

 the waters in relation to migration, repro- 

 duction, and growth. 



In pursuance of this policy the bureau 

 has secured the services of many promi- 

 nent men of science, and much of the 

 progress in the artificial propagation of 

 fishes, in the investigation of fishery prob- 

 lems, and in the extension of knowledge 

 of our aquatic resources has been due to 

 men eminent as zoologists who have been 

 associated with the work temporarily. 

 Their services have been the services of 

 specialists for particular problems, and 

 through them the bureau has not only 

 been able to give to the public the prac- 

 tical results of applied science, but has 

 contributed to pure science valuable 

 knowledge of all forms of aquatic life. 



The small permanent staff of the bu- 

 reau concerns itself more directly with 

 studies of fishes and their environment, 

 with the conservation of diminishing 

 commercial species, and the development 

 of new or improved methods of increas- 

 ing the supply. Such lines of work are 

 undertaken as the need appears or as as- 

 sistance is asked for, and keep the scien- 

 tific assistants in the field for extended 

 periods each year. Some of the most 

 important work in hand at present con- 

 cerns aquatic products other than fishes, 

 namely, oysters, fresh-water mussels, 

 sponges, and the diamond-back terrapin, 

 in all of which cases the problem is to 

 find means to offset the results of long- 

 continued overdraft upon the natural 

 supply. 



Two seaside laboratories are main- 

 tained by the bureau for the prosecution 

 of investigations in pure and applied sci- 

 ence. One of these is located at Woods 

 Hole, Massachusetts. It was built in 

 1883, and is in conjunction with a ma- 

 rine fish hatchery. Here also are exten- 

 sive wharveL, at which the largest ves- 

 sels may lie, and protected harbors for 

 small craft. A large residence building 

 at this station was for a number of years 

 occupied as the summer headquarters of 

 the bureau, the entire executive and office 

 force being transferred from Washing- 

 ton. 



The other laboratory is situated on 

 a small island at Beaufort, North Caro- 

 lina, and was constructed in 1901. The 

 land for both of these stations was donated 

 by private individuals. In addition to 

 their function in the investigations of the 

 bureau itself, these laboratories are open 

 to the public for study and scientific re- 

 search. Students and professors in col- 

 leges and any other qualified investiga- 

 tors may have the facilities of the labora- 

 tories upon request, and these oppor- 

 tunities are largely availed of each year. 



CRUISES OF THE ALBATROSS 



For the survey of off-shore fishing 

 grounds, the study of pelagic fishes, and 

 the general exploration of the seas, the 

 bureau has had, since 1882, the Albatross, 

 a twin-screw iron steamer, rigged as a 

 brigantine, of 1,074 tons displacement, 

 which was specially designed and built 

 for this work and has contributed more 

 to the knowledge of the life and physics 

 of the sea than any other vessel. The 

 complement of officers and men, number- 

 ing about 80, is furnished by the navy ; 

 there is in addition a small civilian staff, 

 including a resident naturalist and a 

 fishery expert, to whom the practical 

 work of the ship is intrusted. 



After spending several years in the in- 

 vestigation of the fishing grounds of the 

 Atlantic coast of North America, the 

 Albatross was dispatched to the Pacific 

 Ocean in 1888 and has since confined her 

 operations to those waters. The vessel 

 has made three extended cruises to the 



