[11] 



FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES 523 



more eastern Jakes were explored in considerable detail; but Mr. Milner's services 

 were soon demanded for the more important problem of fish culture and distribution, 

 which thereafter occupied the greater part of his time. In 1879, however, while in 

 Florida for the benefit of his health, he made interesting collections of fishes, mainly 

 on the west coast. After his death his duties were assumed by Major T. B. Ferguson, 

 the present Assistant Commissioner, who has charge of the propagating work. 



Mr. C. G. Atkins, in charge of the hatchery at Bucksport, Maine, has made frequent 

 contributions, especially of fresh-water fishes from the State of Maine. During 1871, 

 Dr. H. C. Yarrow, United States Army, stationed at Fort Macon, made a careful study 

 of the food-fishes of the North Carolina coast for the Commission, and obtained large 

 collections of fishes and marine invertebrates. Mr. Silas Stearns, of Pensacola, Florida, 

 has, for a number of years, acted as an agent of the Fish Commission on the coast of 

 the Gulf of Mexico, studying the fisheries, and making collections of all kinds of 

 marine animals. Through his exertions, several new species have been added to the 

 fauna of that region. 



Mr. R. E. Earll and Colonel M. McDonald conducted the census investigations of 

 the general fisheries of the Southern Atlantic coast, during 1880, and made extensive 

 collections of economic and other fishes and invertebrates. During the same period, Mr. 

 Ernest Ingersoll accomplisbed like results for the oyster and other economic mollusks. 

 In 1876, Mr. L. Kumlien collected in Texas, and more recently Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, 

 United States Army, has been studying in great detail the aquatic fauna of the Mis- 

 sissippi Delta, which has hitherto received but little attention. Mr. E. G. Blackford 

 and Mr. Fred Mather, of New York, have both rendered important services to the Fish 

 Commission ever since its organization, especially with reference to the extensive 

 fisheries which center at New York City. In 1874, Mr. Mather also made a large col- 

 lection of fishes in Michigan, and since then in New York, Long Island Sound, and 

 elsewhere. Captain N. Atwood, of Provincetown, Massachusetts, and Mr. S. Powel 

 of Newport, Rhode Island, have aided the Commission greatly by numerous contribu- 

 tions from time to time. 



On the Pacific coast, the more important explorations have been by Professor D. S. 

 Jordan and Mr. C. D. Gilbert, who carried on the census investigations of that region, 

 and made enormous collections of fishes, embracing over 60 new species. They also 

 obtained an abundance of invertebrates. Mr. J. G. Swan, of Port Townsend, 

 Washington Territory, has, from time to time, sent valuable zoological contributions 

 from the region of Puget Sound ; and Mr. Livingston Stone has collected exten- 

 sively in the fresh waters of the Western States and Territories, and especially in Cali- 

 fornia and Oregon. Other naturalists and collectors on the west side to whom the 

 Fish Commission is greatly indebted for materials and observations are Professor R. 

 E. C. Stearns, Mr. Henry Hemphill, Mr. L. Belding, Mr. W. N. Lockington, and Mr. 

 Andrea Larco. 



In connection with the work offish-hatching, which is described in another section, 

 very interesting and valuable embryological studies have been made by Mr. J. H. 

 Ryder, of the Fish Commission, and Professor W. K. Brooks and Mr. H. J. Rice, of 

 Johns Hopkins University, on the oyster, shad, mackerel, and many other important 

 food-fishes. 



War Department. — Explorations of Colonel Totten, United States Army, in marine 

 zoology, along the New England coast, beginning about 1834. Exploration of the 

 Red River of Texas, in 1851-'52, by Captains R. B. Marcy and George B. McClellan ; 

 collections of fishes mainly. Zoological collections at the Tortugas, Florida, by Cap- 

 tain H. G. Wright, from 1851-'54; fishes mainly. 



Explorations and surveys for a railroad route from the Mississippi River to the 

 Pacific Ocean, from 1853 to 1857, under the direction of the Secretary of War, accord- 

 ing to acts of Congress in 1853 and 1854. These explorations were carried on by some 

 seven or eight distinct parties, each under command of an officer of the Army, and 

 covered a vast area of territory lying between the parallels of 32° and 47° north lati- 



