518 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [6] 



all scientific problems relating to aquatic life have upon the fishery question, began at 

 once upon a liberal and far-sighted policy, which has been productive of most satis- 

 factory results, and probably no similar commission of any country of the world has 

 made more rapid advancement or been more successful in its application of scientific 

 results to practical aims. One of the first steps in entering upon the new project was 

 to secure the services of eminent specialists in the different groups of aquatic ani- 

 mals and plants, as associates and assistants in making collections and observations, 

 and in reporting upon the different classes of objects and phenomena which come 

 within its scope. In the selection of his corps Professor Baird has been exceptionally 

 fortunate, as the many valuable reports issued under his direction amply testify. 

 The small appropriations at his command in the beginning made it necessary to 

 depend largely upon volunteer assistance, and many of the most important scientific 

 results have been obtained through the aid of unpaid labor. 



In the summer collecting work, several college students have participated nearly 

 every year, for the sake of the training they could thereby obtain, and their services 

 have been of the greatest assistance to the Commission. 



As by far the most important of the American fisheries center upon the New Eng- 

 land coast, this region demanded first attention, and during every summer, but 

 one, since the Commission was started, a well-organized scientific party, in charge 

 of the Commissioner, has systematically explored its waters with every known appli- 

 ance suited to the purpose. During the first two years nearly all the dredging and 

 trawling work was accomplished with the aid of small sail boats or steam launches, 

 and the hauling-in was done by haud. From the third to the ninth year, through 

 the liberality of the Navy Department, small naval steamers or tugs were detailed 

 for the use of tbe Commission, and enabled the explorers to extend their operations 

 to greater depths and to a greater distance from land. In the summer of 1880, the 

 Fish Commissi6n steamer "Fish-Hawk" was first available for scientific investiga- 

 tions, and being furnished with all the improved dredging appliances, that had been 

 lately introduced by the Coast Survey, as well as with those previously used by the 

 Fish Commission, and with a sounding machine for the use of piano wire, it waspossible 

 to still further enlarge the field of work, and increase the accuracy and rapidity of 

 observations. 



The present spring (1883) there has been added to the Fish Commission fleet an- 

 other and much larger exploring steamer, the " Albatross," which combines every 

 necessary convenience to adapt her to the requirements of marine research in all its 

 branches. She has been built expressly to explore the off-shore fishing grounds, and 

 study the distribution and habits of all the useful species of fish, whether bottom- 

 feeding, like the cod and halibut, or surface-schooling, like the mackerel and men- 

 haden. But her operations will not be limited to the practical side of the fishery 

 question, for she will also engage in deep-sea sounding and dredging and in the tak- 

 ing of oceanic temperatures, and, in fact, in all researches bearing upon the biology 

 of the ocean. She was only completed in February last, and the few trips she has yet 

 made have been mainly for the purpose of testing her machinery and scientific appliances 

 which are now in perfect running order. Her first regular cruising will begin about 

 July 1. Her outfit is very complete, and comprizes all the most approved appliances 

 now recognized by fishermen and naturalists for collecting marine specimens. Many 

 novel features have also been introduced, as described in the catalogue, and she is re- 

 garded as the most perfect floating workshop and laboratory for scientific research 

 ever constructed. 



The several steamers which have been in the service of the Commission, as well 

 as those now belonging to it, have all been manned by naval crews and commanded 

 by naval officers, to whose untiring zeal and deep interest in the exploring work is 

 largely due the successful results of dredging. Commander (now Captain) L. A. 

 Beardslee, United States Navy, was in charge of the dredging steamers from 1873 to 

 1875, inclusive, and again in 1878; Lieutenant-Commander (now Commander) A. G. 



