Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-08
Ahc Oper'><ions of the Fishery Conn
IRsisSiOns

Ahe Oper' '>ssonA of the Fishery Com.
mission.
TIE WORK FOR THE SEASON.
iha sum Of So, 600 was appropriated by Con-
gIeSS to furnish the Fish commission with a
Esh-hatching steamer. Such vessel will
greatly Increase the efficiency of the operations
OF the commission. Four fiat-bOttomed scows,
now at the navy yard for which the steamer will
be substituted, have in the past been towed to
and from the places of Matching. Much time
was lost under this system, as the convenience
OF government revenue cutters was necessarily
awaited, the commission having no money to
spend in hiring tugs. The scows were old and
clumsy and fast rotting, and were so slow in
be visited In a season. The steamer to be built
will accommodate all the Matching ma
chinery and the men necessary to at
place, touching at many localities when the fish,
ing season is at its height at each. The ma
chinery and men to hatch and distribute many
that has been needed is the improvement now
provided in the means OF stunning the fishing
waters or the eggs to be Matched. 1t is not ex-
pected that the new steamer will be ready for
the shad-hatching season, but it is thought that
the cOd-hatching which has been carried on at
Gloucester during the winter with such success
will profit by it. The steamer will, of course,
have the advantage of ability to go directly out
to sea to obtain the cod eggs, and the Matching
may be carried on while the vessel is On its way
TO the place where the fish are to be distributed.
COD IN SOUTHERN WATERS.
Prof. Baird's purpose is to bring next winter
| twenty million or more OF artifcialIy hatched
! cod southwark and place them in the waters at
the mouth OF Chesapeake bay. The young fish
| will return to spawn In the waters with which
| they first become acquainted, provided the ply
| steal conditions are favorable. A temperature
OF water at least as low as d or so degrees is
| necessary. Records have been made of the
temperature OF water at different localities
and at different depths all along the
coast Gnsa.roon. It appears that the waters Of
| colder than the maximum temperature at which
the COD can thrive. Indeed stray specimens of
ths Jish have been Caught all along the coast as
1ar south as Virginia. Prof. Baird cOntemplateS
aseries OF cod fisheries much farther south than.
any now exist, and will make the first expert
mens ae1d 81 In &c chesapeake bay When each coast
les we can snub Canada, which places its marine
products at exorbitant prices and enjoy
noble foOd-fsh cheaply.
BAD OUTLOOK FOR THE POTOMAC FISHERIES
In reference to the shad fisheries of the Poto-
mac Prof Baird believes, after trial, that moth
Ing enective can be done by the Fish Commis-
until the poisoning of. the river by the coal tar
from the gas works OF the District and Alexan-
drfa Is stopped, and until restrictions are placed
prospects that anything in this direction win be
done soon. Concurrent &C ton by Virginia and
Maryland IS necessary for effective legislation
oecesSs,W oe es a'ter pos; Strngent laws TOO are
works from going into the river.
Geological Survey of the Country.
ENACTMENTs OF THE sUNDRY CIVIL BILL AS
PASSED.
In the sundry civil appropriation bill as
finally passed is the following under the head of
Geological Survey
For the salary of the director OF the geologi-
Cal survey, which Office is hereby estahtshed
under the Interior department, who shall be an
pointed by the President by and with the ad-
VICE and consent OF the Senate, $4,000: Provided,
geological survey. and the classification of the
pubic lands and examination of the geological
structure, mineral resources and products of
the national domain. And that the director and
members OF the geological survey shall have no
personal or private interests in the lands or
mineral wealth OF the region under survey, and
private parties Or corporations; and the geOlog-
fcal and geographical survey of the territories,
ana aho tne I geographical and geological survey o
ment OF the Interior, and the geographical sur
veys west Of the one hundredth meridian, unde
tne war department, are hereby discontinued,
And all collections of rocks, minerals, soils fos
slls, and objects OF natural history. Archaeolo
gy, ana ethhoogy, made by the Co lst Id In
defi0r n survey. the Geological Survey, Or Dy any
other parties for the Government of the United
states, when no longer needed for investiga-
LIONS IN progress shall be deposited in the Ma
tlOnal museum. For the expenses of the Geo.
logical Survey and the classificati IN OF the pub
lie lands and examination of the Geological
structure: mineral resources and products
the national domain, to be expended under the
direction OF the Secretary OF the Interior. SlOO
900: For the expense OF a commission on the
coaincation OF existing laws relating to the sur
for other purposes, $2O, 900. Prouided, That the
commission shall consist OF the Commissioner of
Inc Genera! Land once, the Director OF the
civilians, to be appointed by the President, who
shall receive per diem Compensation Of ten
dollars lor each day while actually en-
fr0U
neither the Commissioner of the General
Land once nor the Director OF the United States
.,eoiogical survey, shall receive other compen-
!lan their salaries, respectively, except their
travelling expenses. while engaged on said du-
ties; and It shall be the duty OF this commission
tlme Oh us organization; first, q codificatiOn OF
the present laws relating to the survey and dis
sltaon pos 3d tne public domain; second, system
ana standard or classification OF public lands:
as araOie, 1rr1gable, timber. pasturage swamp
coal, mineral lands and such other classes as
may 1e deemed proper, having due regard to
humidity OF climate. supply OF water for irrtga.
tion, and other physical characteristics third,
system OF land parcelling surveys adapted to
tne economic uses OF the several classes Of
lands; and, fourth, such recommendations as
they may deem wise in relation to the best me-
thod OF disposing OF the public lands of the
xeern portion Of the United States to actual
For publications OF the Geological Survey.
preparation OF reports, maps illustrations, etc.
appTOpTlatlOnS are made amounting altogether
to 100000
TIE FITZ IOHN PORTER CAsE-The board OF
inquiry in the case OF FitZ John Porter having
completed their Investigation some weeks ago.
are TO reassemble for their final session In New
iork city On the 18th inst. The board consists
OF MAJOR General SchOfeld, Brigadier General
aired IL. Terry and Colonel Geo. W. Getty. OF
tne 30 artillery. The vOluminous testimony is
now all In print and In the hands of the mem
bers OF the board and 1t only remains for them
TO make up their findings and report to the Pre-.
sident what action they advise him to take in
the matter, and what is their opinion as to the
guilt or innocence Of Gen. Porter
A HARTFORD PASTORS GNATIoN-Eey
+. +. Emerson, pastor OF the ASy lum Avenue
Baptist Church, OF Hartfod, Conn., at a meeting
thursday night read letter resigning his pas.
t0rate because, upon consideration, he cannot
approve the ideas held by the denomination re-
garding commuior ana baptism. He has
preached there about two years, and taken a
tadng position as preacher. Less than a
year ago the pastor OF the leading Methodist
cnurch there went over to .COngregatiOnaiism
10 ~hlch II Is supposed Mr.. Emerson will CO.
SUIT FOR MILLION.-W. j. Merritt has COM
menced suit in New York against the admins
traitors OF the estate OF the late John Merritt
claiming that he is the only son, and conse-
Iuently heir TO all the estate, which Is worth
n