FOREIGN AND COLONIAL FISHERIES 251 



of foreign countries, and the collection of zoological and botanical 

 specimens for faunistic and museum purposes. The statistical work 

 is naturally concerned with the collection of commercial fishery 

 statistics, special attention being paid to the destruction caused 

 by various methods of fishing, with the view of ascertaining whether 

 overfishing existed. The third branch — that of Fish Culture — 

 though not originally contemplated by Congress when the Com- 

 mission was appointed, has developed to a very considerable extent- 

 The introduction and propagation of fresh and salt water fish is 

 the main object of this third section of the Bureau's efforts. 



No efforts have been spared by the United States authorities to 

 make their Bureau of Fisheries what it is to-day undoubtedly, the 

 finest in the world. European efforts, though there has been some 

 improvement in recent years, still pale into significance when 

 compared with the magnificent equipment provided for the United 

 States experts in the shape of laboratories, hatcheries and research 

 vessels. The early years of the Bureau were devoted to an active 

 investigation of the condition of the fisheries of the Atlantic coast. 

 Great Lakes and other sections ; to studies of the interior and 

 coastal waters, their inhabitants, and to exploration of the offshore 

 fishing grounds. The cultivation of useful fishes was soon taken 

 up throughout the country, and quickly assumed large proportions. 



The natural expansion of the Commission's activities was assisted 

 materially from time to time by acts of Congress, after a few years 

 the work had a very wide scope. Of recent years there is hardly a 

 phase of aquiculture, of the fishing industry, or of biological and 

 physical science as applied to the study of the waters, that does 

 not come under the survey of the Fisheries Bureau. Originally the 

 Commission was without any executive control in administrative 

 matters. According to the United States Constitution, each State 

 legislates for itself in fishery matters, and the Federal Government 

 has assumed no responsibility. The Bureau thus had no direct 

 voice in the framing or enforcing of measures for the protection or 

 preservation of aquatic animals ; its position in this respect, as 

 compared with the fishery service in other countries, was anomalous. 



In its advisory capacity the Bureau has acquired, however, an 

 influence on fishery legislation ; it has now been given executive 

 powers in Alaska for the enforcement of a comprehensive code of 

 laws for the protection of the salmon fisheries. The high standard 

 of excellence attained by the reports of the Bureau have led 

 naturally, even in foreign countries like Great Britain, to a careful 

 consideration of the various opinions on fishery legislation put 

 forward in aU cases where such opinions either deal with aquatic 

 animals of similar habits, such as lobsters and salmon, or with 



