CX REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Need for economy. — The extended scope of the work of the division, 
the great expanse of territory to be canvassed in the obtainment of 
statistical and descriptive (lata, and the relatively small sum availa- 
ble for the investigations have made the most careful use of the funds 
necessary. It is thought that expenses of the field agents for travel 
and subsistence (including railroad and steamboat fares, carriage and 
boat hire, hotel bills, etc.) have been kept remarkably low, and that the 
average daily expenditure of $3.86 per man will compare favorably 
with the record for other branches of the Government service. 
Analysis of disbursements. — The funds of the division were expended 
.as follows: 
Salaries $10, 940. 08 
Travel and subsistence of agents 2, 980. 21 
Miscellaneous, including printing, supplies, furniture, etc 853. 95 
Total 14, 774. 24 
Balance 225. 76 
Amount of appropriation 15, 000. 00 
C.— CONSIDERATION OF THE STATUS OF THE WORK, ITS 
PROGRESS, ETC. 
PERSONNEL AND DUTIES. 
Changes in personnel. — During the year there have been many changes 
in the personnel of the division of fisheries, due to various causes, 
among which the chief have been the general expansion of the work 
and the assignment of certain persons from the division to the prepara- 
tion and conduct of the exhibit made by the Fish Commission at the 
Centennial Exposition of the Ohio Yalley and Central States. The 
following notes in relation to the personnel will present a clear idea of 
the changes indicated : 
Assignment of persons to other duties. — As was mentioned in my report 
for the previous year, it became necessary, in carrying on the work of 
preparing and conducting the exhibit of the Commission, to detail to 
duty in connection therewith Messrs. E. C. Bryan and W. H. Abbott, 
who continued in service at Cincinnati until the close of the exposition. 
Mr. H. R. Center, who was temporarily assigned to duty in connection 
with the preparation of the exhibit, resumed his ordinary duties in the 
division soon after the beginning of the year. He was detached from 
the division of fisheries on November 30, 1888, and assigned to duty 
in the division of scientific inquiry. 
Special assignments and duties in office and field. — The following note- 
worthy assignments to special duties were made during the fiscal year: 
During my absence from Washington (to which more extended refer- 
ence will be made elsewhere), Mr. Hugh M. Smith was placed in charge 
of the office work, acting under my direction, with the exception of the 
time during which he was employed in fieldwork, when the office affairs 
