New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-09
FISH COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
EXTENSIVE AND IMPORTANT WORK PERFORMED
~ THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

EXTENSIVE AND IMPORTANT WORK PERFORMED
~ THE LAST FISCAL YEAR
Washington Sept. s.-The annual report Of Fish
Commissioner Bowers saysa that the operations OF
this branch Of the Government in the last fiscal
year were In many respects more extensive ana
important than ever before The propagation and
distribution Of food fishes were much more extern
sive than in any previous year, exceeding by about
a per cent the work accomplished in any other
similar period. The number Of adult and yearl!ng
nsh fry and eggs distributed in pubic md private
waters or transferred 10 the State authorities was
oves $50 900 900, of which by far the largest num-
be. represented important commercial species. like
the shad cod, whtehsh, ga, mon. fathsh lake trout
herring pike perch and lobster. In the distrbu-
lion OF this enormous output from the hatcheries
10 the waters to ne stocked. the cars and messen-
gers Of the Commission travelled over 10000 miles
entering every State and Territory.
An important new feature Of the hsh-cu.tural
work was the Matching Of l5Occ0 fry Of the graylIng
at the Bozernan, Mont. station This fine food and
game FISH has limited distribution. and its arti-
fetal propagation has heretofore been chiefly ex-
perimen,al.
The Matching OF the waeyed pike. which had
been discontinued for several years, was resumed
at the Putin Bay Lake Erie station In the spring
Of 1895 and 81 10000 fry planted in public
waters.
In the present fall the work OF the Commission
in the West will be actively pushed. Commissioner
Bowers regards especially worthy OF mention
the immense extension OF the samon-hatchng
works on the Pacific Coast where the enormous
nual catch makes Il absolutely necessary that the
supply should be kept up by artificial means There
Is every reason 20 believe that the take Of salmon
ovs will be even larger than last year. The Com
misson has conducted comprehensive biological
survey OF Lake Erie. the result OF which will per-
nit OF more effective and intelligent dealing with
the problem OF how TO maintain the FISH supply OF
the lake
The most valuable Of the fishery resources OF the
country the oyster. has been the subject OF num-
Der Of special Investigations. In response to re-
quest from the General Assembly Of Louisiana. the
Commission detailed the steamer Fish Hawk. Lieu
tenant franklin Swift. L. S. n. commanding 10
make survey Of the oyster grounds OF that State
in order 10 furnish accurate Information on which
10 base revision of the oyster laws. with view
20 putting the industry more substantial foot
ing Experiments I'm the fattening OF oysters for
market were continued at Lynnhaven. Va where
the Commission has constructed special ponds Tor
the purpose. The prevalence of green, oysters in
ueney serious financially 10 the oyster-groWers. AMI
received prompt attention from the commission.
that the green oysters made by copper, with
which they have been contemplated and are there
losses 10 oys,ermen. who are prevented from mar,
, xerng the crop when the sresnness is at an
announced BY the Commission that the green oys-
serves as food, and that no impairment In the fooI
value OF the oyster results from this condition,
me announcement IA the press o. the discovery ot
Sopper IN coHside ra6e quantities in English oysters
, ,sa the Commission TO make a denomination or
me subject which confirmed the previous tests
Inc desire o! the Commission 10 give the people
on or,, he pac!h2 Coast plentiful supply or Easrln
oysters has resulted In the shipment OF a numoer
0i carloads 10 suitable points in California and
oregon, the plants teing guarded By the local au-
uotitles during the time required for their &C
sa' ~, Snd prov agntion In order 10 deter
commission detailed Professor Washburn, Of Ore
W. University 10 visil AMI repor, on the beds
r,oiessor Wa burns observations. extending over
~. years 1897 I'D 1853. show that all the painted
s;,sssts nave s"-vved and grown. although there
"eyet no eviesoces Of an Increase in numbers.