252 THE SEA FISHERIES 



similar natural conditions. Since 1893 the Bureau has studied the 

 life-history and migrations of the fur-seals, has inspected the 

 conditions on the islands, and has submitted recommendations 

 concerning the killing of the animals. 



Up to 1903 the Bureau was known as the " United States Com- 

 mission of Fish and Fisheries," and was an independent institution 

 of the Government, directly responsible to Congress. In that year 

 it was included in the new department of Commerce and Labour, 

 with its present title the " United States Bureau of Fisheries." 

 The deputy commissioner is the chief executive officer next to the 

 Commissioner ; the permanent staff of the Bureau consisted in 

 1908 of 325 persons, of whom 83 were on duty in Washington and 

 242 at outside stations, laboratories and on vessels. ^The Com- 

 missioner's office represents the administrative division of the 

 Bureau, having a chief clerk at its head, and under it come the 

 accounting office, the office of the architect and engineer, the office 

 of vessels, in addition to library, record, correspondence and property 

 office. Each of the three divisions of Fish Culture, Scientific Inquiry 

 and Statistics and Methods of Fisheries is controlled by a chief. 



The only funds available for the support of the Bureau are those 

 voted annually by Congress. The amount so voted for the fiscal 

 year 1917 was 1,144,850 dollars. ^ The aggregate investment of 

 the Federal Government in land at its fish hatcheries and labora- 

 tories in buildings, steam and sailing vessels is estimated to be 

 (1909) over il million dollars. 



The artificial propagation of food fish was sanctioned by Congress 

 in 1872 j the fish to which attention was first given were the shad 

 {Alosa sapidissima) , the Atlantic salmon and the white-fish {Core- 

 gonus clupeiformis, a Salmonoid). This work proyed so popular 

 that it was extended annually, was supplemented by efforts in 

 acclimatisation, and soon overshadowed all other branches. 



Fish culture by the United States Bureau of Fisheries is not 

 confined to sea fish, but includes anadromous and purely fresh 

 water forms. In fact, the whole of the organisation of the Bureau 

 is concerned to some extent with the fresh water fisheries, some 

 branches naturally to a much larger extent than others ; and since 

 it is impossible adequately to present the work of the Bureau by 

 referring solely to its marine investigations, it must be understood 

 that a certain amount of space is here devoted to subjects not 

 ordinarily treated of in a work devoted to the sea fisheries. 



The policy of the Bureau as regards fish culture has been to 



» Annual Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries to the Secretary of Commerce 

 for the fiscal year ended 30th June, 1917. Washington, Government Printing 

 Office, 1917. 



