LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



Sir: 



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR, 



Bureau of the Census, 

 Washington, D. C, July 27, 1911. 



The act of Congress of June 7, 1906, provides that the Bureau of the Census shall take decennially, in 

 cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries, a census of the fishing industry of the United States. 



I have the honor to submit herewith the report on the fisheries of the United States for the calendar year 

 1908, which has been prepared in conformity with the requirements of this law. The report presents statistics 

 concerning the capital invested in the industry, the number and tonnage of vessels and boats employed, the 

 character of the apparatus used in catching fish, the number of persons employed, salaries and wages paid, and 

 the quantity and value of the different varieties of products. Statistics of this character are collected from 

 time to time by the Bureau of Fisheries, and as far as possible the census data have been compared with those 

 compiled by that bureau. In order to preserve this comparability and also to comply with the requirements 

 of the law, the Bureau of Fisheries was consulted in regard to the preparation of the schedules, and several 

 employees of that bureau were detailed for work in the Bureau of the Census. These employees rendered 

 valuable assistance, both in the office and in the field. The statistics were collected and the report was pre- 

 pared under the supervision of Mr. William M. Steuart, chief statistician for manufactures. 

 Very respectfully, 



tlsW^&J 



Hon. Charles Nagel, 



Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 



Director of the Census. 



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