back
United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries
Report of the Commissioner for 1877
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.
1. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 1
Number of reports heretofore published 1
Period of the year covered by each report 1
Time covered by the present report 1
Gradual and great increase in the labors of the Commission 2
Labor Involved; increase of appropriations 3
Increased interest and co-operation in the work 3
Assistants in charge of divisions 3
Propagation branch 3
Inquiries branch 4
B. INQUIRIES INTO THE HISTORY AND STATISTICS OF FOOD-FISHES.
2. FIELD OPERATIONS DURING THE SUMMER OF 1877 6
Co-operation of the government departments 6
Of Navy Department in previous years 6
In 1877 by detail of steamer Speedwell 6
Officers of the Speedwell 7
Scientific corps 7
Station at Salem, Mass. 8
Visitors 8
Nature of operations 8
Station at Halifax, Nova Scotia 8
Movements and final disposition of steamer 10
Visitors 10
Assistance rendered to Commission 10
By private parties 10
By the Dominion minister of customs 11
By the minister of marine and fisheries 11
3. GENERAL RESULT OF THE FIELD-WORK OF 1877 12
Continuation of previous researches 12
Discovery Of the pole-flounder, a new and valuable food-fish 12
Its economical value and geographical distribution 12
Reasons why previously unknown 13
Facts connected with distribution of marine fishes 14
Large collections made for the National Museum, and for distribution to colleges and
academies. 15
Superintendence of work of naming and assorting 16
C.—THE HALIFAX CONVENTION. 18
4. THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON 18
Unsettled fishery questions between the United States and British North America 18
Three-mile line 18
Headlands 19
Shelter and supplies 19
License system 19
Privileges of Treaty of 1818 2O
Fishery clauses of Washington Treaty 20
Explanation of provisions 21
Ratification in 1873 22
Appointment of Commissioners and counsel 22
General preliminaries 22
=============================================================================
(777
VI CONTENTS. Page.
5. THE MEETING AT HALIFAX 7 23
Its opening June 15, 1877 23
General proceedings and history 23
Final award 26
Payment of $5,500,000 by the United States 26
6. RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION TO THE HALIFAX MEETING 27
Invitation to attend by the Secretary of State 27
Method adopted of obtaining information to be used 28
Distribution of circulars 28
Dispatch of agents 29
Co-operation of individuals. 29
Departure for Halifax 30
Part taken in the meetings 24-30
Biological and other facts elicited 20-32
Comparative preparation of the two sides 33
Measures to be taken for securing proper statistics of the sea fisheries 35
Acknowledgments 36
D. FISHERY STATISTICS.
7. METHODS ADOPTED AND TO BE EMPLOYED 86
Action of the Treasury Department 86
Action of the United States Fish Commission 38
List of circulars already issued 38
Mode of distributing circulars 39
One subject only agitated at one time 39
Results already elaborated 40
Bluefish, scup, whale, and menhaden
Subjects now under investigation 42
Information of methods of fishing 42
E. NOTICE OF ARTICLES RELATIVE TO THE SEA-FISHERIES PUBLISHED
IN THE APPENDIX.
8. ATTEMPT TO UTILIZE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER NATIONS. 44
Fishery statistics of other nations 44
Methods of other nations illustrated by apparatus imported 45
Proposed improved fishery- exhibit in Washington 46
Value of information published 47
History of Loffoden Island fisheries 47
Observations by Sars on Loffoden fisheries 45
Sea Fisheries of Norway 49
Geographical distribution of Gadidae 49
First five years of Emden herring fishery 50
Sea-fisheries of Sweden 50
9.ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS 51
Observations with the Casella-Miller thermometer, by Commander L. A. Beardslee 51
F. THE PROPAGATION OF FOOD-FISHES.
10. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 18
Unreasonable expectations in regard to results of fish-Culture 18
Time required for determination as to Success 18
Some causes of error or fallacy 18
State Commissions acting In 1871 19
State Commissions in 1877 19
Amount of work done by them 19
Lake States especially noteworthy 10
Co-operation with United States Fish Commission 10
Direct 10
Indirect, as in distribution of salmon, &c 19
Rapid Increase in number 21
Method of recording 21
=============================================================================
CONTENTS.
10. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS—Continued.
Principle of making selections *21
Applications to be made through members of Congress 21
Increase ill (Iceland front foreign countries
Princpal nations making application. 22
Application other than for eggs or fish 22
The general cooperation by State commissions 22
For assistance in working the Clackamas establishment 22
By foreign commissioners and fishery authorities 22
From Germany for models of hatching apparatus 23
From Japan for a similar purpose 23
From Chile and Ecuador for general informationconcerning fishes 23
From British Columbia in regard to the utilization of salmon refuse 23
From New Brunswick, in regard to the canning of lobsters. 23
Fishes not comprehended in the plans of the Commission. Trout, and black bass. 23
General enumeration of fish treated by the United States Commission 24
11. FACILITIES AND ASSISTANCE RENDERED TO THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION 24
By government departments 24
By Navy and Army 24
By State fish commissions
By railroad companies
By express companies
By steamship companies
By individuals
12. LEGISLATION AND PROTECTION OF THE FISHERIES
Antagonism between prosecutors of different methods of fishing.
Absence of legislation on part of the general government
The Washington Treaty as affecting the rights of fishermen. Objections to modes of fishing.
Appeal against trawling by inhabitants of Block Island
Relation of the States to fishery interests
Establishment of close time,
Removal or palliation of obstructions
Fish baskets especially injurious
Limitations as to size of fish sold
13. WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN 1877
The Shad
The Susquahanna station
Reasons for temporary discontinuance of more southern stations
Concentration on work in Susquehanna and Connecticut Defects of floating boxes
Improved apparatus of T.B. Ferguson
Experiments With this apparatus
Work done on the Susquehanna
The Connecticut station.
Transfer of apparatus to South Hadley Falls
Co-operation of Massachusetts commissions
Floating boxes used
Microscopical investigations of H.J. Rice
Experiments at Windsor Locks 31
Reference to Mr. Milner's report 31
THE PACIFIC SALMON 31
The Clackamas station 31
Alarm of canners at decrease of salmon in the Columbia River 31
Dispatch of Mr. Stone to organize a station at expense of Oregon and Washington
Fish Propagation Company 32
Difficulties in selection of Site 32
Reasons for choosing Clackamas River 32
Work required to get the station in running order 32
Results accomplished 32
The McCloud River station 33
Assistance In keeping order rendered by the Army 33
Interference of illegal fishing with the results 33
Dates of taking fish. as
=============================================================================
VIII CONTENTS.
13. Work Accomplished in 1877--Continued. Page.
The McCloud River station—Continued.
Shipment of eggs by refrigerator car. 34
Deposit of young fish in the Sacramento River 34
General results of the season 34
General distribution of eggs 34
Foreign distribution of eggs of the Pacific salmon 34
Applications from Germany and elsewhere 34
Selection of Mr. Mather to accompany the eggs 34
Arrival of eggs in Chicago, October 7 34
Mode of packing, and number of crates 34
Departure on the Mosel 34
Arrival in Bremen 34
Loss in eggs 34
Distributed to Holland and France 34
The Atlantic Salmon 36 (Note right side of this original TOC page partly blacked out)
Bucksport Station 30
No work ited there during the year 30
If operations 36
-vious years 30
30
Trenton 36
planting in that river 30
37
37
37
37
report 37
,with certain States 37
in the United States 38
Germany and France 38
NA 38
as to its being a land-locked fish 38
Establishment in charge of Mr. Wilmot 38
of eggs to the United States Fish Commission 38
of fry into Otsego Lake 38
ville, Michigan station 39
Supply to the United States 39
Supply to Germany 39
Failure of the latter experiment 39
Supply to New Zealand 39
The European marane whitefish 39
Donation of 1,000 eggs to the United States Fish Commission by Mr. Eckardt 40
Introduction of fry into Lake Gardner, Michigan 40
THE CARP
Its introduction an especial object of the United States Fish Commmission 40
Its value as a food-fish 41
GeneraL treatment 41
American rivals of the same family 41
Varieties of carp 41
Advantages of carp-culture 42
Rate of growth of carp 42
Applicability of the fish for certain localities 42
Previous steps taken for introduction. 42
Recent efforts in charge of Mr. R. Hessel 42
First trial unsuccessful 43
Second satisfactory 42
Number of fish imported 43
Placed in Druid Hill Park Park, Baltimore 43
United States carp ponds in Washington 43
Congressional appropriations 43
Plans for a permanent establishment 43
Other experimentsin carp-culture in the United States 48
Alleged introduction of carp into the Hudson River 43
Probably not the genuine carp 43
=========================================================
13. WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN 1877—Continued.
The Carp—Continued.
Introduction by Mr. Poppo into Sonoma, Cal *44
The European tench 44
Introduction by Mr. Hessel with the carp 44
Special peculiarities and value 44
The golden ide. 44
Introduction by Mr Hessel 44
The Sea herring 44
Importance as an article of food 44
Peculiarities of its eggs 44
Spawning habits of the fish 45
Experiments at Nomans Land, by Vinal N. Edwards 45
Experiment in Germany by Dr. R. A. Moyer 45
Special arrangements required for artificial hatching 45
Variations in specific gravity of eggs of different fishes; some lighter, others heavier
than water 46
Comparison of eggs of California salmon and trout 40
The European turbot and sole 40
Great variety of Nod-fishes already in American waters 46
Propriety of adding turbot and solo to the number 40
Interest taken by Mr. J. G. Kidder, of Boston 40
Employment of Mr. Mather to bring over a supply from England 47
Assistance rendered by English gentlemen 47
Difficulties experienced in getting fish 47
Assistance of Canard Steamship Company 47
Fish brought over and place of deposit 47
Acknowledgments to the Treasury Department 48
=============================================================================
END