REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
35 
the exhibit was ready. The exhibit was designed primarily to illus- 
trate the operations of the Bureau in the study of the commercial 
fisheries, the propagation of fish, and the investigation of scientific 
matters pertaining to fishing and fish culture. The amount of money 
available did not permit a comprehensive display, but the functions, 
purposes, and work of the Bureau were shown in outline by an 
aquarium and a carefully selected series of apparatus, specimens, 
charts, and models. The exhibit occupied a separate building in the 
rear of and connected with the main government building. The fish- 
eries. annex was particularly convenient, well adapted for its pur- 
poses, and of ample dimensions to accommodate all the available 
material. The building contained 9,250 square feet of floor space, of 
which 5,500 square feet was devoted to the aquarium. The latter 
was a special feature, and contained fishes and other aquatic creatures 
of both fresh and salt water. It comprised 30 tanks of several sizes 
and a central pool for large specimens. Local waters were drawn on 
largely for stocking the aquarium, but interesting collections were 
sent from the East and from the coast of California. An assortment 
of fishes of the Hawaiian Islands, provided by those in charge of the 
Hawaiian exhibit, proved very attractive. 
Under an act of Congress providing for the participation by the 
United States in an exposition to be held at Quito in commemoration 
of Ecuador’s one hundredth anniversary of independence, this Bureau 
was called on for such material as would represent its functions for 
installation in the United States building. The exposition continued 
for a period of three months, beginning August 9, 1909. Owing to 
the very small amount of money available, the exhibit was necessarily 
confined to pictures, publications, maps, and a descriptive pamphlet 
printed in Spanish. The Bureau was awarded a grand premium for 
its exhibit. 
PUBLICATIONS AND LIBRARY. 
There were received from the Government Printing Office during 
the year the bound edition of the Annual Report and Bulletin for 
1907 and 13 documents issued in pamphlet form. Reprints of 6 
documents, mostly relating to fish-cultural subjects, were required to 
meet current requests for such information. 
There is an active and widespread demand for the publications of 
the Bureau, many of which contain practical instructions for persons 
engaging in fish culture, in commercial fishing, in the preservation of 
fishery products, and in other branches of the industry. During the 
year 23,000 documents have been forwarded in response to specific 
requests and 7,500 additional have been sent to libraries, societies, 
educational institutions, and specialists at home and abroad whose 
names are on the permanent mailing list. 
