REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
31 
An act of Congress approved March 4, 1909, and effective on that 
date, authorized and directed the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, 
on the request of the governor of the State of North Carolina, to 
designate assistants of the Bureau of Fisheries and Coast and Geodetic 
Survey to cooperate with the Fish Commissioner of North Carolina 
in surveying and marking the fishing grounds of the State. Coopera- 
tion of a similar nature had been given by the Bureau on several 
occasions, but owing to the more elaborate character of the survey now 
required by the State and the more permanent nature of the marks to 
be placed on the fishing grounds, it was thought that specific au- 
thority should be obtained from Congress, that the assistance of the 
Coast and Geodetic Survey should be invoked, and that an appro- 
priation covering the cost of the work should be provided. As the 
act carried no appropriation, it has been impossible for the Bureau to 
proceed in the matter. 
RELATIONS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT BUREAUS. 
At the request of the Bureau of the Census, four agents of the 
Bureau of Fisheries were detailed to assist in the taking of a fishery 
census for the calendar year 1908, and in continuation of the under- 
standing between the two Bureaus no general statistical work was 
done by this Bureau during the year. 
The food and drug board of the Department of Agriculture has 
submitted to the Bureau from time to time samples of fishery prod- 
ucts for identification and for expert opinion as to their proper 
labeling under the food and drug law. Members of the Bureau’s 
staff have attended hearings before the board and given testimony 
in fishery cases. 
The Bureau of Chemistry of the Department of Agriculture has 
courteously made analyses of samples of water from the various 
hatcheries. The object of these analyses is to show the special quali- 
ties as to gaseous and mineral content of the fish-cultural waters, and 
the correlation of the chemical properties with the growth and health 
of the fish. 
The question of stocking with food and game fishes the reservoirs 
and lakes formed in connection with government irrigation and recla- 
mation projects has been brought up at various times. A conspicuous 
case is that of the Roosevelt Dam in Salt River, Arizona, which will 
develop an artificial lake from 10 to 25 miles long and 70 to 220 feet 
deep. The lake will be near the center of the territory and a long 
distance from any supply of fish. The Department of the Interior 
has expressed a desire to have the Bureau stock this lake with fish 
for the benefit of the people, and the Bureau has agreed to undertake 
this work. The Government is the owner in fee of all lands covered 
by the lake, and the lands immediately surrounding have been set 
