REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 33' 
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treaty of 1818. This detail extended from September, 1908, to 
January, 1909, during a part of which period the revenue cutter 
Gresham was assigned to this work and served as the headquarters of 
the Bureau’s representative. American vessels that now resort to the 
“ treaty shore ” of Newfoundland are engaged only in the herring 
fishery. In 1908-9 these vessels numbered 42, whose catch consisted 
of 32,741 barrels of salted herring, valued at $132,695, and 18,157 
barrels of frozen herring, valued at $105,095. Two other vessels were 
lost while in this fishery. Canadian vessels, several of which were 
chartered by American firms, secured 2,737 barrels of salted herring, 
worth $11,773, and 6,505 barrels of frozen herring, worth $29,273. 
The season passed without any disturbance. 
INTERNATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 
The Fourth International Fishery Congress convened in the city- 
of Washington in September, 1908, in response to an invitation ex- 
tended in 1905 by the Department of Commerce and Labor and the 
American Fisheries Societ}^. The foreign delegates gathered at the 
Department of State on the morning of September 22 and were 
greeted by the Acting Secretary, Hon. A. A. Adee. The opening 
meeting was held at the hall of the National Geographic Society, 
the United States Commissioner of Fisheries presiding. Addresses 
of welcome were made by Hon. Oscar S. Straus, Secretary of Com- 
merce and Labor, on behalf of the United States ; by Hon. Henry L. 
West, Commissioner of the District of Columbia, on behalf of the city 
of Washington; and by Dr. Hugh M. Smith, president of the 
American Fisheries Society, on behalf of the society. A response in 
the name of the foreign delegates was made by Dr. P. P. C. Hoek, 
scientific fishery adviser of the Dutch Government. The nomina- 
tions of Prof. Hermon C. Bumpus, director of the American Museum 
of Natural History, as president of the congress, and of Dr. Hugh M. 
Smith, Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries, as secretary-general, were 
ratified, and fifteen vice-presidents from different countries repre- 
sented were elected. Thereafter two sessions were held daily, the 
final meeting being on the afternoon of the 25th. 
The membership of the congress numbered more than 400. Fif- 
teen countries were represented by official delegates, and 11 other 
countries by delegates of societies and by private individuals. In 
addition to a number of delegates at large on behalf of the United 
States Government, four executive departments, the United States 
National Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution were officially 
represented. There were also duly appointed delegates from 43 
American States and Territories and 20 American soeieties, clubs, and 
institutions. There were in attendance many of the leading fishery 
