884 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The great haste with which the exhibit was prepared made it un- 
usually difficult to comply with the extraordinary demands in settling 
up affairs after the close of the exposition, when it became necessary to 
show in an itemized statement every individual object purchased and, 
as far as possible, the particular exhibit it was obtained for. Never- 
theless, this duty was satisfactorily performed, though the labor involved 
was so great that the work was not completed until late in the winter 
following the close of the exposition. 
Press comments . — The press showed a praiseworthy disposition to pub- 
lish instructive and reliable articles on the fisheries, some of which were 
well illustrated. In this way tens of thousands became familiar with 
the fisheries who had known little or nothing of them before, and many 
persons were thus led to visit the exposition for the purpose of adding 
to their knowledge of these industries, as well as to become better 
informed as to the work and functions of the U. S. Fish Commission. 
There can be no question of the beneficial effect on the fisheries of thus 
bringing the citizens of our interior States to understand and appreciate 
their importance to the nation and the peculiar perils and hardships 
which attend their prosecution. 
Material sent to Augusta Exposition . — On September 17 the Augusta 
National Exposition Company, through its commissioner, Charles S. 
Hill, requested that the Fish Commission, after the close of the Cincin- 
nati Exposition, send certain collections illustrative of its workings to 
the national exposition to be held at Augusta, Ga., October 10 to Nov- 
ember 17, 1888. In compliance with instructions from the Commis- 
sioner the material selected by Mr. Hill was sent to Augusta. The 
most important object sent was the collection of photographs illus- 
trative of fisheries, which had attracted much attention at Cincinnati. 
Courtesies . — I have pleasure in acknowledging, on behalf of the Fish 
Commission, the following courtesies: 
The IT. S. National Museum placed at the disposal of the Commission 
certain collections, cases, etc., while its experts were permitted to 
accept temporary employment from the Commission for the purpose of 
packing the more fragile material. 
The U. S. Hydrographic Office furnished for exhibition a full set of 
its charts of the fishing banks off the northeast coast of America, many 
of which had recently been issued on a much improved plan. The series 
also included the coasts and harbors of Canada, Newfoundland, and 
Labrador, off which the fishing banks lie, and which are much fre- 
quented by American fishermen. 
Acknowledgments are due Prof. John A. Ryder for the assistance 
given by him in the preparation of the microscopical exhibit. 
Dr. Dali, curator, and Dr. Stearns, adjunct curator, of the Depart- 
ment of Mollusks, E. S. National Museum, both gave attention to the 
selection of a collection of mollusks representing the most important 
commercial species. 
