REPORT UPON THE DIVISION OF FISHERIES. 351 



Cape Hatteras to Labrador, showing the distribution of certain bait and 

 food species, for the use of the International Fisheries Commission then 

 in session at Washington. I was assisted in the work by Mr. Uregor 

 Noetzel, who was charged with the drafting work. The following is a 

 list of the maps : 



(a) Map showing the geographical distribution of the halibut ; t'he principal fish- 

 ing grounds; the regions of former abundance and present scarcity ; important fish- 

 ing ports, and other facts relating to the halibut fishery of the east coast of North 

 America. 



(&) Map showing the distribution of the cod family; the principal fishing grounds 

 and localities frequented by cod fishermen of the United States ; the important fish- 

 ing ports and baiting stations, and other facts relating to the cod fishery of the east 

 coast of North America. 



(c) Map showing the geographical distribution of mackerel ; the regions of the 

 greatest abundance and localities frequented by mackerel fishermen of the United 

 States; inshore fishing grounds in British provincial waters of possible importance to 

 the mackerel fishermen of the United States; the important fishing ports, and other 

 facts relating to the mackerel fishery of the east coast of North America. 



(d) Map showing the geographical distribution of the principal species of fish and 

 mollusks used as bait for cod and halibut, as well as for food and other purposes, the 

 important baiting stations, and other facts relating to the bait supply of the east coast 

 of North America. 



ld^yotes on the use of squid for food. — Early in the year my atten- 

 tion was accidentally called to a remarkable innovation in the ultiliza- 

 tion, on the Atlantic coast, of squid (Loligo peali) for food. Desiring 

 to obtain full information on the subject, I communicated with Mr. E. 

 G. Blackford, a prominent dealer in the Fulton fish market, New York 

 City, and Mr. Atkins Hughes, North Truro, Massachusetts, who owns 

 several traps and weirs in that vicinity. The result of this corre- 

 spondence was printed in the Bulletin for this year. The occurrence is 

 of such interest, however, that it is but proper that mention of it should 

 be made here. 



H. — Notice of field work ; proposed investigations, etc. 



Under this head it is proposed to consider such phases of the work 

 as relate to field inquiries prosecuted during the year ; the plans for 

 undertaking new investigations; the preparation of blanks or sched- 

 ules, and such other matters as seem to be naturally connected there- 

 with. 



20. Field work. — Very little field work has been done during the past 

 year. The many important events which occurred during the year 

 were of a nature to practically preclude the possibility of undertaking 

 many new investigations. The fatal illness of Professor Baird, that 

 culminated in the sad event which deprived the Commission of its 

 loved and honored chief and founder, had a most depressing effect, 

 while the conditions resulting from his death and the necessity that 

 existed for giving special attention to other vitally important matters 

 placed the statistical inquiry under specially unfavorable influences. 



