New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-10
roEK or mn fi>A toVui<>l0y.

The annual report of Professor Sp-acrs T.. Bald,
Intcd states Coiami ,,on"r FI~h and FISHERIES.
has lust been issued from th & r.;nrnt Printing
Office Ii il suost initial volume oi 9NN page. made
mp in part of account Of the work o. to Comnis.
SION and Its agents. and III part oi reports and
paprIs containing tic results of special studies and
Investigations undertaken at the III tauco of tho
Commission by naturaIrsts and experts. Among the
valuable contribution 10 the second division Uf the
book are ser c, OF papers the propagation Of food
fishes, reports the sea fisheries of the United
states and those Of NORWAY and sweden. and the
Illustrated reports ON tho marine animals OF New
England aad the adjacent waters. Another mcrli0-
rous feature of the volume list of the patents
issued IN the United States. Great Britain and Cam
ada having re ercnce 10 tho pursuit. capture and
utilization OF the products of the fisheries.
Tho work of tho CDmnis3ion n little indefinite at
first because OF its evident magnitude and its posi-
blll.c, OF useful expansion, has been thoroughly
ws.enaiilel and directed into the following
channels: a. The preparation of Il series
of reports upon the various groups of
aquatic animals and plants Of North America
especially those having direct relation e. the wants
of mankind; ~ the collection of specimens and their
distribution for educational purposes 10 colleges and
scientific societies; C3l account of the character
and condition Of the waters of the United States
with reference TO their availability for nurturlng
different species of food fishes; ~ descriptions of
cthods employed in capturing and Utilizing fishes
with suggest Ons OF improvements and the prrScn
tatlon Of valuable foreign devices and processes not
employed in this country; % statlstic9of American
fisheries; 90 tue development in tho National MU-
scum AT Washington of complete collection OF
AQUATIC animals and plants and OF apparatus
| used III the fisheries AZ home and abroad;
a. an Investigation Of the movements OF the various
Kinds of fish to basis for state and Fod-
crai legislation for their protection; ~ the stocking
Of the waters OF the United States with
the ish most suited to them, either
by Artificial Propagation or transfer. The mere
statement of ,rsc yurious lines of work is suffice
to show the great value of the laboTI of the Com
mission. There are few branches of governmental
activity where so much tangible good il accom-
u ishcd with such email expense and yet 1t IL Il
branch wholly outside of what the advocates of
limited aud weak government consider the lcgltI-
mnto sphere of National Administration.
In all the directions Indicated ABOVE The Comms-
, sion is able to port considerable progress every
! year. II has already done great deal toward in
crcusing the prouuct of the fisheries by restocking
! exhausted streams, Introducing new Species aud
spreading Information concerning methods of prop
| agating, catching and preserving fish. Its work
does nor by any means all show in its own report
| for much Is accomplished by States aud individuals
under the stimulus of its suggestion ahd advice
recent achievement of tho Commission which
promises early results of great practical value ia tho
lntrjd"c n of the German carp. In0 carp 81 Large,
sluggish iioh which Can bc raised by aay farmer who