REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
CXV 
Correspondence. — Many of the correspondents of the Commission, and 
especially those in direct communication with the office of .the division 
of fisheries, have shown a disposition to furnish information whenever 
called upon. In many cases parties have voluntarily sent important 
data bearing upon the fisheries that have been utilized in descriptive 
papers and statistical presentation. 
Newspaper clippings . — In my last report allusion was made to news- 
paper clippings as being valuable for reference when properly classified. 
The efforts which have been made to render available this class of 
material have, on the whole, been satisfactory, and good progress has 
been made in the latter part of the year. 
ROUTINE WORK. 
That part of the work of the division which may properly be classified 
as routine, and of which there is a large amount in connection with the 
compilation of statistics, may be placed under the following heads: 
Work relating to statistical circulars. — This consists (1) in acknowl- 
edging to collectors of customs the receipt of circulars containing sta- 
tistics of the fisheries; (2) registering the same; (3) examining circulars 
and making comparisons for the detection of errors; (4) correcting 
errors (which sometimes involves considerable correspondence), and 
(5) making compilations. 
Miscellaneous correspondence. — There has been a large amount of 
miscellaneous correspondence relating to the general work of the 
division. This has been chiefly with members and committees of Con- 
gress, with the statistical agents in the field, with parties engaged in 
the fisheries, etc. 
Card catalogue . — The system of keeping a card catalogue of fishing 
vessels sailing from the United States has been continued and elabo- 
rated, and has proved a valuable adjunct in carrying on the work. 
This catalogue contains a complete record of the life history of each 
vessel since 1885, so far as the information has been obtained in the 
office, and by its means it is feasible to trace the work and movements 
of the fishing craft of the United States. 
Classification of newspaper items. — The classification of newspaper 
clippings containing items relating to the fisheries may properly be 
classed as routine work. Allusion was made to this in my previous 
report, where it was stated that a rough classification had been at- 
tempted. Until the latter part of the year it was not feasible to do 
more than this, though two clerks were detailed to the work of pasting 
and arranging the clippings. Later, however, a satisfactory attempt 
was made at a systematic classification, and the success achieved at 
the close of the year gives good promise to expect gratifying results 
from the work. 
Pressure of routine work. — Owing to the unusual efforts which have 
been put “forth during the year in the prosecution of special investiga- 
