Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-24

E% United States fish COM
KIN mission continues to ex-
IN tend it's munifce mt
operations while agri-
III culture proceeds to run
Ia itself into the ground
~ and plug up the hole.
That old-time IA til
which made folks believe the Lord will provide
may be revived and strengthened il from the
watery waste comes the free raw material for
the brains, backbones and disphragms of our
people. Lord Byron got up early one morning
to remark confdentlally to the ocean that it
had better roll on as mans control stops with
thy shore" The poet didn't seem TO know
that the tides are but old oceans pulse and his
breath the winds that make our ships come in.
Nor did the apostropheic bard foresee that SO
soon we should have the sea bound in chains
and cables and made subservient to our will.
No longer mans control stops with the shore,
but the whole boundless universe is his, in
Guiding the rivers and fresh water lakes, and it
is in these that the fish commission is doing
Its greatest work.
IT'S BRANCHES.
The commission has three coordinate
branches, that of fish culture, inquiry in regard
to food fishes, and inquiry into the statistics,
methods and relations of the fisheries. Through
Its acquaintance with all the fishing grounds
and the names and character of the boats and
fishermen it gives through its reports much
that Is beyond the scope Of a mere census table,
and through accompanying explanations makes
the otherwise useless figures ineligible. Its
branch of inquiry into the relations of the
fisheries bring the commission into contact
with the affairs of other countries, and the
knowledge thus obtained may serve to prevent
or solve international complications
The scope OF the inquiry 10 to ascertain the
commercial Importance of the fishery industries
OF the United States; to study the commercial
value OF fishing grounds; to define the extent
and character Of inshore fisheries and those in
interior waters; to determine their resources
as shown by the catch of various species; the
seasons of abundance and the effect of fishing
upon the supply of fish; to study the economic
condition of the fishermen and ascertain their
nativity, citizenship, &C.; to study the vessels
and boats employed in the fisheries, with q
view to suggesting improvements; to determine
the character of different forms OF apparatus
OF capture, their utility and their effect upon
the fisheries; to study the methods of fishing
with view to suggesting improvements or
dlscouraging such methods az are harmfuliy
destructive or Improbable; to investigate the
utilization 81 fishery products, including
methods OF curing, refrIgerating, canning and
otherwise preparing material for commercial
purposes; to ascertain the means and methods
of transporting by and land; to inquire into
the condition and extent of the wholesale fish
trade, the sources of supply and principal lines
OF distribution, and to study the question of
international relations affecting the fisheries.
FROM SMALL BEGINNING.
Prof. Baird early recognized the Importance
to the government of comprehensive statistics
of the fishery industries and did all he could
from the first organization of the commission,
in 1871, to supply this want. The first work
with which the commission was charged was a
study Of the reported decrease of food fishes in
New England. Important data were collected
on this subiec, and soon the commission was
required to gather similar facts for the presen-
tation of the American side of the case in tine
Halifax convention of 1877. But Prof. Baird
means were limited. and it was not till 1880.
when an arrangement was made with the Cen
sus office whereby the commission was charged
with making a census Of the fisheries, that it
entered upon this work under auspices that in
sured the desired result. The facts then gathered
comprised the first comprehensive statistical
report OF our fisheries. This, with the data
since accumulated by the commission, furnishes
the only guide to Congress in iegislating upon
fishery matters and one of vast importance
where our foreign relations are involved II
is believed that the United States would not
have been required to pay the Halifax award
OF IS. 100000 in 1877 had our government pos
sessed an accurate knowledge of our fisheries
and fishery resources such as has since been
acquired through the efforts OF the commits
sion. So comprehensive and thorough is the
information now gathered that a truant school
boy can hardly dig bait without the eye of the
commission being upon him and his operations
called to the attention OF Congress.
VESSEL FISHERIES.
After completing inquiries for the census of
1880 no extensive investigation was undertaken
until 1885, in which year, through the co-opera-
ton of the Treasury Department, a system of
fho cfafIc fia 90 sba Oh
was established and a comprehensive inquiry
made concerning the fisheries OF the great lake
region. the fisheries of New England and the
Gulf of Mexico being also studied. In the next
year an investigation was made of certain
fisheries In eastern Maine, and the resident
agent IN Gloucester, Mass, reported upon the
general features of the New England fisheries.
Since the division of fisheries having special
charge of these inquiries was established, in
1888, very comprehensive investigation has
been made of the Pacific coast fisheries from
San Diego to Puget sound and inquiry has also
been made into the condition OF the salmon
fisheries in some of the waters of Alaska,
reports of which will soon be made to Con-
gress. These reports cover the years 1887 and
1883, while that for New England and the south
Atlantic states will also cover 1889 Reports
have also been made on the sardine industry in
1886, the beam-trawl fishery of Great Britain
with notes on beam-trawling in other European
countries, reasons why the Nova Scotia fisher
men use salt CLAIMS for bait in the bank line
fishery. statistics of the vessel fisheries of
1886, 1887 and 1888. and on improved types of
vessels in the market fisheries, with notes on
British fishing steamers. An exhaustive review
of the condition of the fisheries in the great
lake region has also been prepared and is now
In type, while extensive notes amounting to a
monograph on the fishing vessels and fishing
boats OF the United States and other countries
with much illustrative material are ready for
publication. This division also did much work
in connection with the fish commission exhibit
at the centennial exposition of the Ohio valley
and central states in Cincinnati in 1888, as well
as with the operations OF the schooner Grampus
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
The commission has done much for the
benefit of the commercial fisheries by advice
and suggestion, among the results being the
introduction of gIll-nets in cod fishing. In
creasing the catch Of large fish and saving
est, 900 annually to the fishermen. Informa.
ton concerning the abundance of halibut near
Iceland has resulted in the establishment FIR ON
New England ports of the Icelandic salt b ali
but fishery, the yearly product of which is
worth from $1,000 to 100000, and the intro
duction OF safer and swifter fishing vessels has
secured greater immunity from loss of life and
property, better utilization of time and a
marked increase in profits, as the catch can be
marketed in a much better condition than here
tofore.
The importance Of these changes in the
mr. dAl y..,- Il.