258 THE SEA FISHERIES 



industries dependent on them constitutes the major portion of the 

 work. 



During the calendar year 1911, the fisheries of the United States, 

 including Alaska, but excluding insular possessions, may be regarded 

 as having had the following approximate extent : Persons engaged, 

 225,000 ; vessels employed, 7,500 of 217,000 tons ; total capital 

 invested, $65,600,000 ; yield, $76,000,000 ; this sum representing 

 the first value of the various products. At present the fisheries of 

 the United States are more valuable than those of any other country. 

 The two most important fishing ports on the Atlantic coast are 

 Boston and Gloucester. During the calendar year 1911 vessels 

 from these two ports made 6,800 trips to the fishing grounds, landing 

 185,153,367 pounds of fish, valued at $5,024,497. 



The cod is the most valuable product of these fisheries, but the 

 haddock, ranking second in value, is taken in somewhat larger 

 quantities. Next in rank among the ground fish are the hake, 

 halibut, pollock and cusk. Of the surface-swimming fish mackerel 

 and herring are the most important. 



The history of the Alaskan salmon inspection service is one full 

 of interest ; for the details reference should be made to the various 

 official reports issued by the Bureau. 



From the beginning of its career the Bureau of Fisheries of the 

 United States has maintained cordial relations with the fishery 

 authorities of the various States. In addition the relations of the 

 Bureau with similar departments in foreign countries has always 

 been of the best possible description. There appears to be no limit 

 to the courtesy of the United States fishery officials ; certainly no 

 effort is spared to assist inquirers from foreign coimtries. No one 

 acquainted with Dr. Hugh M. Smith, the present Commissioner of 

 Fisheries, can fail to have been impressed with this most gratifying 

 featmre of the Bureau's activities. 



The Bureau has made many gifts of American fish eggs to foreign 

 Governments ; the hardiness of these eggs and the facility with 

 which they can be transported out of water for long distances, have 

 resulted in the establishment of some of the best food and game 

 fish in distant lands. The brook trout and other American sal- 

 monoids are now thriving in Argentina ; the brook trout, the rain- 

 bow trout, and the black bass are widely distributed in Europe ; 

 the rainbow and brook trouts are found in several Japanese lakes ; 

 and some of the finest trout fishing in the world is afforded by the 

 rainbow trout in New Zealand, where also the chinook salmon, the 

 blue-back salmon, and various other American fish are now flourish- 

 ing. 



The volumes which represent the United States Bureau of 



