II REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



rate of five thousand dollars a year, and he shall he removable at the pleasure of the 

 President. Said Commissioner shall not hold any other office or employment under 

 the authority of the United States or any State. 



John G. Carlisle, 

 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

 John J. Ingalls, 

 President of the Senate pro tempore. 



This act was approved by the President January 20, 1888, and Mar- 

 snail McDonald was appointed Commissioner. 



The report accompanying the act making the Commissioner of Fish 

 and Fisheries a salaried officer of the Government follows herewith: 



Mr. Dunn, from the Committee on Merchant Mariue and Fisheries, submitted the 



following 



REIP ORT: 



[To accompany bill S. 261.1 



The Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, to whom was referred the 

 bill (S. 2G1) entitled " An act to amend the law concerning the Commissioner of Fish 

 and Fisheries," have considered the same and report it back to the House without 

 amendment and recommend its passage without delay. 



The U. S. Fish Commission was established by act of February 9, 1871, which pro- 

 vided for the appointment by the President, with the consent of the Senate, of a 

 Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries from among the civil officers or employes of the 

 Government, who shall serve without additional salary. The act contemplated sim- 

 ply an investigation il with the view of ascertaining whether any, and what, dimi- 

 nution in the number of the food fishes" had taken place, and also what (i protective, 

 prohibitory, or precautionary measures should be adopted, and report upon the same 

 to Congress." 



The act of March 3 of the same year, to provide for deficiencies, etc., appropriated 

 $5,000 for the expenses of the inquiry ordered. 



Prof. Spencer F. Baird, then Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, and 

 an employe" of the Government, ho having charge of the National Museum, was ap- 

 pointed Commissioner. He prosecuted the inquiries with so much zeal, energy, and 

 ability that the act of 1871 was reenacted, and the deficiency bill of May 18, 1872, 

 made an additional appropriation of $3,500 to continue the inquiry, and $500 for the 

 preparation of illustrations, tables, and report. 



So impressed was Congress with the wisdom of Professor Baird's recommendations, 

 based on the investigations he had made into the condition of our fisheries, that the 

 act of June 10, 1872, contained an appropriation of $5,000 to continue those investi- 

 gations during the fiscal year, and $15,000 was provided <; for the introduction of 

 shad into the waters of the Pacific States, the Gulf States, and of the Mississippi Val- 

 ley; and of salmon, whitefish, and other useful food fishes into the waters of the 

 United States to which they are best adapted." Each succeeding year appropriations 

 have been increased as the work was extended uuder the wise and successful manage- 

 ment of the Commissioner. 



The act limiting the appointment of the Commissioner to a detail of some one at 

 the time in the employ of the Government appears to have contemplated only an in- 

 quiry occupying perhaps a few summer mouths. 



At the time of the selection of Professor Baird his duties under his salaried position 

 were comparatively light, as he was charged with the administration, under the Sec- 

 retary, of the Museum, which was in those days contained in the small space which 

 could be allowed in the Smithsonian Building. Under Professor Baird's masterly, 



