REPORT UPON THE DIVISION OF FISHERIES. 337 



A. — Introduction. 



The Division of Fisheries was established at a date so near the close 

 of the fiscal year that little time remained to organize the work, and 

 get it into successful operation, during the period covered by this report. 

 For this reason, comparatively little can be said here concerning what 

 has been accomplished by this branch of the Fish Commission. In the 

 following pages, however, such facts as relate to the organization of 

 the division, and the events that led up to it, have been recorded. Men- 

 tion has also been made of the work subsequently performed, and the 

 plans for future effort. 



In the months preceding the establishment of the Division of Fish- 

 eries much work was accomplished and many interesting events trans- 

 pired which are intimately associated with this division, and may, 

 therefore, be appropriately referred to in this report. Iudeed, it is be- 

 lieved that a review of these matters is necessary to insure a clear and 

 comprehensive understanding of the conditions under which the division 

 entered upon its duties, and also to convey an idea of the scope of its 

 efforts in the interest of the commercial fisheries. 



It has been the desire of the writer to mention all matters of moment, 

 and to do full justice to all who have been prominently identified there- 

 with. It is possible that he has not fully succeeded, for he was absent 

 from Washington a considerable portion of the year — a year remark- 

 able for occurrences of exceptional importance to the Fish Commission, 

 resulting from the death of Professor Baird, which in a large measure 

 had a tendency to overshadow all minor matters. 



The particular work that is considered to be the function of the Di- 

 vision of Fisheries, which has heretofore been carried on by the Com- 

 mission without special appropriation, and under conditions that ham- 

 pered its full development, has now been specifically authorized by 

 Congress, and the money appropriated is available for the next fiscal 

 year. It is confidently anticipated that the importance of this inquiry 

 will be recognized in the future, and that the means will not be wanting 

 to prosecute it actively, so that it may become an important agency in 

 developing and improving the fisheries of this country. 



B. — Organization of the division of fisheries. 



The Division of Fisheries was instituted by the Commissioner, Hon. 

 Marshall McDonald, on May 24, 1888, on which date he announced its 

 establishment, and appointed an assistant to assume charge of the 

 division and the direction of its work. 

 H. Mis. 133 22 



