TABLE OF CONTENTS

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries

Report of the Commissioner for 1873, 1874 and 1875
A. Inquiry into the decrease of the food fishes.
B. The propagation of food-fishes in the waters of the United States.

A. AN INQUIRY INTO THE DECREASE OF THE FOOD-FISHES

1. INVESTIGATIONS OF 1873 VII
Reason for selecting Portland, Me, as base of operations VII
Assistance rendered by the Navy Department VII
The steam-tug Blue Light VII
Associates in the inquiry VIII
Numbers of living forms found in the waters of the region VIII
Mackerel, cod, and herring fisheries VIII
Fish-food. VIII
Biological researches. IX
Physical researches IX
Collections for scientific museums. IX
List of visitors at Peak's Island station IX
Apparatus used on the Blue Light IX
The region southeast from Cape Elizabeth X
The region at the upper end of Casco Bay X
Proof of climatic changes on the northern Atlantic coast X
Assistance rendered by the United States Coast Survey X
The steamer Bache X
Assistance rendered by the Treasury Department XI
The revenue steamer McCulloch XI
The revenue steamer Chase XI
Assistance rendered by the Quartermaster Department of the Army X I

2. INVESTIGATIONS IN 1874 XI
Reasons for selecting Noank, Conn, as base of operations xi
Assistance rendered by the Navy Department, xi
The steam-tug Blue Light XI
General character of work prosecuted XI
Experiments in propagating sea-bass. XII
Visit to shad-hatching station at Holyoke, Mass XII
Experiments in inuring embryo shad to sea-water XII
Shipment of shad to Germany ......
Discoveries of species before unknown to the coast XIII
Associates in the inquiry XIII
List of visitors to the Noank station XIII
Special report to be made on invertebrates XIV
Cold currents XIV
Assistance rendered by United States Coast Survey XIV The steamer Bache xiv
Experiment with preservatives xv

B THE PROPAGATION OF FOOD-FISHES.

3. EXTENT OF THE WORK

Regions benefited xv
The value of fish-propagation to China XVI
Reasons why the work cannot be left to State action XVI
The plan as regards the propagation of the shad. XVI
Extent of the California-salmon work XVII
The possible resources of rivers XVII
The proposed introduction of the carp XVII
Former abundance of fishes XVII

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VI TABLE OF CONTENTS.

4. THE SHAD XVIll
The hatching and distribution of 1874 XVIII
The waters benefited in the United States XVIll
The shipment to Germany XVIII
The hatching and distribution of 1871 XVIII
The Neuse River of North Carolina. XIX
The Pamunkey River of Virginia XIX
The reconnaissance of the Potomac fisheries XIX
The stations and results on the Potomac XIX

Distribution from Coeymans Landing N.Y., on the Hudson XIX
Distribution from South Hadley Falls, Mass., on the Connecticut River XIX
Distribution from Point Pleasant, Pa., on the Delaware River XX
Review of the labors of the season XX

Experiments by Fred Mather and H.W. Welsher, with a view to transporting shad long distances XXI

The shipment to Germany XXI
Experiments with a view to transporting shad in sea-water XXII
Experiments with a view to transporting shad of several inches length. XXII

5. THE CALIFORNIA SALMON XXII

Mr. Livingston Stone's operations in 1873 XXII
The final hatching of the eggs in eastern waters XXIII
Mr. Livingston Stone's operations in 1874 XXIII
Qualities of the California salmon XXIV
Observations of temperature in San Joaquin River XXV
Observations of temperature in McCloud River XXVI
Observations of temperature in Columbia River XXVI

Comparison of physical conditions of the rivers of the Atlantic Slope and Gulf of Mexico with Pacific streams XXV1

Distances which anadromous species will travel inland XXVIII
The great vigor of the California salmon XXIX
The reasons for expectation of success in introducing California salmon in eastern waters xxix

The great addition to the food resources XXX

6. THE ATLANTIC SALMON XXX
Mr. Atkins' operations in 1873-'74 and 1874-'75 XXX
The number of brooding salmon bought and manipulated XXXI
Marking the fish when released XXXI
The capture of marked fish XXXI

7. THE WHITE FISH XXXII

8. THE CARP OF EUROPE XXXII
Its qualities and habits XXXII
Numerous domesticated varieties XXIII
The best varieties XXXV
Its artificial propagation XXXV
Localities in Europe where they are bred XXXV
Desirability of the carp for the United States XXXVI

9. THE AQUARIUM CAR XXXVII
The trip of 1873 XXXVII
The trip of 1874 XXXVII

10. TABLES OF DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD-FISHES XXXVIII
Tables of shad hatching and distribution XXXVIII
Tables of California salmon distribution XL
Tables of Atlantic salmon distribution XLV

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INDEX OF APPENDICES