Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-27
THE FISH INDUSTRY.
H-United States Bureau of Fisheries.
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

The decrease Of the supply of natural
fish in various parts of the country led
to the establishment, in 1871, Of a federal
commission which is now known as the
bureau Of fisheries and is under the juris-
diction of the Department Of Commerce
and Labor In it's forty-two years of eX-
istence this bureau has accomplished an
almost unbelievable amount of good work
in securing a better recognition OF the
Importance of fish cultivation and pro-
lection. In the beginning the bureau or
commission was only given authority to
conduct investigation as to the causes OF
the decrease of fish, both upon the coast
and in the interior waters. 1t soon de-
veloped the possibility of rendering prac-
teal service in the way of supplying the
fish to remedy the decrease, and In
recognition of this fact Congress from
time to time has increased its authority
and enlarged Its functions until it is to-
day recognized as one of the most i'm
portant agents in the conservation ana
increase of the food supply OF the nation.
First of ALL as the work of the bureau
Is now conducted, attention is given to
the conservation Of all sources of supply
Much Of the decrease Of fish was due to
the fact that in the fishing industry fish
were caught and killed without refer
ence to their size and condition, and the
sacrifice of female fish during the spawn
ing season meant the loss of the spawn
from which the supply of young fish for
future seasons should properly come. For
this purpose fish hatcheries We're estab-
lished and arrangements were made to
have the fishermen preserve the fish eggs
and turn them over to the government OIL
ficials who provided facilities for hatch
ing them and afterward distributing the
young fish where the need was greatest.
A most important feature of this work
has been in connection with the cod
fisher e
Important Feature along the
on New England Coast. land coast
One of the most important Of the United
States fisheries stations is located at
Gloucester. Here are Matched millions OF
fish eggs each year. When the cod fisher
men go out in their boats. sometimes for
trip of several weeks, they carry with
them the apparatus provided by the gov
eminent for the preservation and the fer
tilization Of the eggs taken from the fish.
In this way the young fish or fry are
raised to supplement those that are
Matched in the natural manner. 1t is
claimed that a much larger percentage
of the eggs are matched artifcially than
in the natural state. as they are kept I'M
disturbed and the conditions are better.
For the securing of these eggs man
employed by the government goes upon
the vessels in New England and collects
them. In other parts of the country they
are frequently brought in to the hatch
cries by the fishermen and in some in
stances are sold to the government
There are thirty-two main Matching
stations and ninety-two auxiliaries in
thirty-one states. all operated by the
United States bureau OF fisheries. and
during the year ending June 30, 1912, the
output was more than 3.426.OOOWO fry,
over 32,OOO,OOO fingerlings, yearlings and
adult fish, besides 229.OOO.OOO fish eggs
consigned to the hatcheries which are
now being operated by different states
and 335.OOOOOO which were shipped to
foreign governments. Most of these fish
planted were of the kind most valua BILE
for food, such as the Pacific coast SAL
mon, yellow perch, cod, mackerel, pike
perch. fiatfish and lobster.
There are hatcheries upon the great
lakes and by special arrangement with
the Canadian government the United
States bureau of fisheries conducts two
egg collecting stations for whitefsh,
cisco and lake trout at points in Ontario
In the inland states there are a number
of hatcheries which are chiefly engaged
In the production of eggs of rainbow
trout, land-locked salmon. brook trout,
bass, pike and drumflsh.
Recently the bureau has undertaken
the preservation of large number of the
fish obtained
Fish Are Saved by the over
From Death in Pools. INV sou " ,,,.s ."e
sippi valley. In the low lands the waters
recede leaving disconnected pools which