United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries

Abstract

THE contents of the present volume, embracing details of the work done by the United States Fishery Commissioner for the year 1879, are quite as varied and even of greater interest, if that be possible, than the preceding reports. The specific objects of the methodical inquiry which has now been going on for over twelve years, has for its object to report progress in regard to the propagation of food-fishes in the waters of the United States, as also to afford information as to the decrease in the stock of food-fishes. As has been already stated in the columns of NATURE, in which previous reports have been reviewed, the inquiry which has been so long in progress is being conducted in a thorough and searching way; it embraces the consideration of every topic calculated to throw light on the economy of the American fisheries. Nothing that can be deemed illustrative is neglected—the literature devoted to the natural history of food-fishes, or to descriptions of the fisheries of other countries, especially those of Europe, has been largely utilised in preparing the reports, with the result of making the volumes which have been issued a perfect encyclopædia of fishery information. The contents of the present report embrace a full account of the work overtaken in 1879 and the early part of 1880. The fishes which have been more particularly dealt with in the period noted are the Californian Salmon (Salmo Quinnat), the Atlantic Salmon (S. Salar), the Mountain or “Rainbow” Trout of California (S. Irideus), as also the Schoodic Salmon (S. Salar, var. Sebago). Various details are also given of what has been done in carp culture, as also of experiments made with the Striped Bass (Roccus lineatus) and the Shad (Alosa sapidissima). This fish is dealt with quite in wholesale fashion, the figures quoted being really marvellous, as many as 16,062,000 of young shad being distributed, a complete record being kept of the places to which they were forwarded; in the previous year the distribution of this fish reached the figure of fifteen and a half millions. Among the distinctive articles contributed to the present volume are some of rare importance; we may refer to that by Prof. Barlow on “The Marine Algæ of New England,” which is both interesting and exhaustive; it extends to 210 pages of the volume now before us, and is illustrated by a series of well-executed drawings. Another paper of importance, full of curious information, is that of Mr. A. E. Verrill, “On the Cephalopods of the North-east Coast of America”; it is also profusely illustrated with fine drawings. “The Propagation of the Eel” is a contribution which is sure to attract attention; the article is by Dr. Otto Hermes, and was read before the German Fishery Association; although brief it contains many features of interest in connection with the natural history of the curious animal of which it treats, and describes most distinctly the differences of the two sexes. The author of this paper announces that the old eels, both males and females, die soon after the spawning season; “the extraordinarily rapid development of their organs of generation exhausts them to such a degree that they die soon after having spawned.” This is the reason why they are never seen to return to the rivers. Among the miscellaneous contents of the present report will be found instructive essays on the food of marine animals, by Prof. E. Möbius. In the appendix will be found a very readable account of the herring fisheries of Iceland, as also a short treatise on the fisheries of the west coast of South America. One of the most scientific papers which is given is one containing a reprint of a series of extracts from the investigations of the Commission for the Scientific Examination of the German Seas—it contains much that will prove of interest both to naturalists and economists. It may be safely said alike of the present and the preceding reports, that they contain a mass of information on fish and fisheries of a kind which has never been before brought to a focus, and in issuing such a guide to all interested, the United States Government has set us an example which we ought at once to follow. The volume is published at Washington, and is printed at the Government Printing Office.

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries.

Part vii. Report of the Commissioner for 1879.