Report of the commissioner for 1875-1876.

  • United States Fish Commission.
Date:
[1878]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the commissioner for 1875-1876. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/1102 (page 1)
    REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. A—GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 1.—INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. The operations of the United States Fish Commission commenced in 1871, in pursuance of a law passed February 0, 1871, which authorized and directed the appointment by the President of a Commissioner to investigate the alleged diminution of food-fishes along the sea-coast and in the lakes of the United States; and, if this proved to be the case, to suggest the proper method for restoring the supply. Having been selected by the President for the duty in question, the work was begun during the summer season of that year at Wood’s Holl, a village on the southwestern portion of Cape Cod, situated on the steamboat-route between Few Bedford and Martha’s Vineyard. It was continued in 1872 at Eastport, Maine; in 1873 at Portland, Maine; in 1874 at Noaukr Conn., on Fisher’s Sound; and in 1875 at Wood’s Holl for the second time. In this way a general and preliminary idea of the character of the coast aud its fisheries was secured, and an important foundation laid for finally carrying out the objects of the research. It will, of course, be understood that a question admitting of so much argument and involving so much antagonism on the part of those whose interests are concerned cannot be solved in a day, and that caution is necessary before announcing any conclusion that is not thoroughly aud entirely based upon well-established premises. The operations of natural and artificial causes must be watched for a period of several years, for the purpose of eliminating what is extraneous, and of fixing attention upon that which alone has a direct bearing upon the problem. A similar research, commencing at about the same time, has been carried on by the German Government, in some respects on a much larger scale than that prosecuted by the United States; and in Germany, as here, the data for a final decision have not yec been attained. Some of the conclusions published in the Eeport of the United States Commission for 1871 have not been entirely verified, especially as to the infiueuce of certain agencies upon the fish-supply ; and it is only after a patient and careful consideration of all the circumstances that a deduction can be reached which may be considered as authorizing measures of legislation. 1*