Mr. LANE, from the Committee on Fisheries, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 15617.] The Committee on Fisheries, to whom was referred H. R. 15617, fish-cultural stations in certain States, having considered the said bill, report back the same with the following amendments, with the recommendation that it do pass as amended. Page 1, line 10, strike out "$50,000" and insert "$40,000." Page 2, line 11, strike out "$50,000" and insert "$40,000." Page 2, after line 23, insert "Tennessee, $40,000." Page 2, after line 23, insert "State of Colorado, $15,000, for improving and extending the present fish-cultural facilities at the Leadville Station." S R-64-2-vol 1-16 For justification of the Colorado item there is submitted herewith communication from the Commissioner of Fisheries. Hon. HARRY LANE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, BUREAU OF FISHERIES, Chairman Committee on Fisheries, United States Senate. DEAR SIR: In compliance with your request I submit herewith an item for incorporation in the bill (H. R. 15617) for the establishment of additional fish hatcheries. The amount requested is to enable the bureau to increase its fish-cultural operations in Colorado and to obviate, for the present at least, the necessity for establishing an additional hatchery in that State. The amount specified will be employed for furnishing additional hatching facilities at the Leadville station, for converting to fish-cultural purposes two lakes on the station reservation, and for the construction of modern ponds and runways. Very respectfully, Proposed amendment to H. R. 15617: H. M. SMITH, Commissioner. State of Colorado, $15,000, for improving and extending the present fish-cultural facilities at the Leadville station. With reference to the committee's action in striking out lines 24 and 25 on page 2, which read "State of Texas, on or along the Gulf coast, for the propagation of sea fish, $50,000," there is submitted the following communication from the Commissioner of Fisheries. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, BUREAU OF FISHERIES, DEAR SIR: At your request I inclose a copy of a letter from the Secretary of Commerce to Hon. A. W. Gregg, House of Representatives, dated May 3, 1916, setting forth the Secretary's reasons for not advocating the establishment of a marine fish hatchery in Texas at the present time. Very truly, yours, H. M. SMITH, Commissioner. MAY 3, 1916. MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN: The Commissioner of Fisheries has referred to me your letter of the 27th ultimo, inclosing a copy of the bill (H. R. 4654) to establish a marine fish-cultural station in the vicinity of Galveston, Tex. For the following reasons the department does not think it in the public interest to urge at this time the establishment of a marine fish hatchery in Texas: (1) There is no evidence now in hand showing the necessity for artificial measures to keep up the supply nor anything to show diminution in the abundance of food fishes on the coast of Texas. (2) The coastal fisheries of the State are, for the most part, undeveloped, and the latest statistics available indicate an annual catch of only 1,200 pounds per mile of coast line, as compared with a catch of less than 900 pounds per mile as long ago as 1890. Such operations would hardly affect the general abundance of food fishes and could have only a local and transitory influence. (3) The department has no information to show that a marine fish hatchery can be successfully operated at Galveston or any other predetermined point on the coast of Texas. (4) The department has had no experience in the hatching of fishes on the coast of Texas and would be unable, without long and careful study, to state what kind of hatchery should be erected and what facilities should be provided to meet the requirements of particular fishes. (5) The entire subject of conservation and increase of the aquatic resources of the Gulf region will receive attention at the new fishery biological station in Florida. The necessity for artificial measures to maintain the supply will be thoroughly con sidered and the appropriate means of hatching and rearing will be determined by experimentation. (6) It is true that four years ago a favorable report was made on a bill similar to the one now under discussion, but the department does not now concur in the views then expressed. While I would be loath to withhold support for any measure designed and required for building up the food-fish supply of any part of the country, I would not feel warranted, under the circumstances herein enumerated, in recommending a marine hatchery which might be years in justifying its establishment and might prove a perpetual incubus. Yours, very truly, WILLIAM C. REDFIELD, Secretary. Hon. A. W. GREGG, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. There is also appended hereto and made part of this report House Report No. 767. [House Report No. 767, Sixty-fourth Congress, first session.] The Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, to whom was referred H. R. 3594, H. R. 9539, and S. 4067, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Alabama; H. R. 5779 and S. 4449, to establish fish-hatching and fishcultural stations in the State of Arizona; H. R. 504, H. R. 6802, and H. R. 13339, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Pennsylvania or Delaware; H. R. 726, H. R. 732, H. R. 733, H. R. 734, H. R. 736, H. R. 738, and S. 2993, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Florida; H. R. 3607, H. R. 4805, H. R. 6069, H. R. 7639, and H. R. 11961, to establish fishhatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Georgia or North Carolina; H. R. 88, to establish a fish-hatching and fish-cultural station in the State of Illinois; H. R. 259, to establish a fish-cultural station in the State of Idaho; H. R. 359 and H. R. 11328, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Louisiana; H. R. 411, H. R. 453, H. R. 3649, and H. R. 7549, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Missouri; H. R. 4719, H. R. 11875, H. R. 13052, and H. R. 15197, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Michigan; H. R. 10411 and II. R. 11080, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Minnesota; H. R. 6431 and S. 1859, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of New Mexico; H. R. 402, H. R. 3580, H. R. 11149, H. R. 11478, H. R. 11711, H. R. 11713, H. R. 11784, and S. 4490, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Oklahoma; II. R. 4668, to establish a fish-cultural station in the State of Oregon; H. R. 15954, to establish a fish-hatchery in the State of Maryland or Virginia; H. R. 331, H. R. 4654, and S. 3261, to establish fish-hatchery and fish-cultural stations in the State of Texas; and H. R. 3637 and S. 3129, to establish fish-hatching and fish-cultural stations in the State of Washington, having considered the same, report the accompanying bill to the House as a substitute for said bills, with the recommendation that it do pass. The recommendations of the Bureau of Fisheries, Department of Commerce, for the establishment of these hatcheries are as follows: Alabama. A fish hatchery for the State of Alabama was included in the omnibus bill reported from the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the Sixtythird Congress, on the following recommendation from the Commissioner of Fisheries of date March 19, 1914: "Although the bureau is now operating pond stations in Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Arkansas, the annual output of fish from them is not large enough to meet the demands coming from the Southern and Southwestern States, and a hatchery in Alabama is highly desirable. One important function of such a station would be the encouragement of fish culture on farms and the supplying of desirable brood fishes for this purpose, in addition to stocking public waters throughout Alabama and parts of the contiguous States." The commissioner appeared before the committee and stated that the department was still in favor of a hatchery being established in Alabama. Arizona.-A fish hatchery for the State of Arizona was included in the omnibus bill reported from the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the Sixtythird Congress, on the following recommendation from the Commissioner of Fisheries of date March 19, 1914: "A section of country 1,500 miles long from east to west and 600 miles wide from north to south, including the States of Arizona and New Mexico, is entirely unprovided with Federal fish hatcheries. In this region fish-cultural work addressed to the indigenous fishes of the Rocky Mountains and to suitable species which may be introduced from other sections of the country can be advantageously conducted. This will not only permit of more active aid in behalf of the fish supply of the region but will also be more economical because of the long distances to which fish from other stations now have to be transported in order to supply the growing needs of this section.' The commissioner appeared before the committee at this session and stated that the department is still in favor of a hatchery being established in Arizona. Pennsylvania. Under date of February 29, 1916, in a letter addressed to Hon. M. E. Burke, chairman Subcommittee on Fish and Fish Hatcheries, Hon. William C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce, recommends a fish hatchery for the State of Pennsylvania. The Commissioner of Fisheries appeared before the committee and stated it would be desirable to establish this hatchery on the lower Delaware River, in the State of Pennsylvania, Delaware, or New Jersey. Florida-Under date of February 29, 1916, in a letter addressed to Hon. M. E. Burke, chairman Subcommittee on Fish and Fish Hatcheries, Hon. William C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce, states: "A fish hatchery in Florida is recommended for passage. The numerous rivers and lakes of Florida offer an inviting field for the establishment of a combination station addressed to the migratory river fishes and to the resident lake species. Some of the latter, like the black bass, attain a much larger size in Florida than anywhere else. A station suitably located in this State could also materially aid in maintaining the supply of shad, and this work would be highly desirable, inasmuch as the first shipments of shad each season to the markets of the country come from the waters of Florida." A fish hatchery for the State of Florida was included in the omnibus vill reported from the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the Sixty-third Congress on the following recommendation from the Commissioner of Fisheries of date March 19, 1914: "The numerous rivers and lakes of Florida offer an inviting field for the establishment of a combination station addressed to the migratory river fishes and to the resident lake species. Some of the latter, like the black bass, attain a much larger size in Florida than anywhere else. A station suitably located in this State could also materially aid in maintaining the supply of shad, and this work would be highly desirable, inasmuch as the first shipments of shad each season to the markets of the country come from the waters of Florida." Idaho.-Under date of February 29, 1916, in a letter addressed to Hon. M. E. Burke, chairman Subcommittee on Fish and Fish Hatcheries, Hon. William C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce, recommends the passage of a bill for a fish hatchery in the State of Idaho. Missouri.-Under date of February 29, 1916, in a letter addressed to Hon. M. E. Burke, chairman Subcommittee on Fish and Fish Hatcheries, Hon. William C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce, recommends the passage of a bill for a fish hatchery in the State of Missouri, with suggestion that the location be left to the department with the understanding that the site selected will be with regard to the greatest benefit to Missouri and the contiguous States. New Mexico.-A fish hatchery for the State of New Mexico has the indorsement of the Bureau of Fisheries in the following letter of February 4, 1916, addressed to Hon. B. C. Hernandez by Dr. Hugh M. Smith, Commissioner: Hon. B. C. HERNANDEZ, House of Representatives. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, MY DEAR SIR: By direction of Secretary Redfield I beg to bring to your attention the keen desire of the Bureau of Fisheries to increase the supply of food and game fishes in your State and to cooperate actively with the State authorities to this end.. While the bureau has been making considerable plants of suitable food fishes in the waters of New Mexico and will continue to do so, this work is carried on at a disadvantage because of the distance involved in the transportation of the fish from. the nearest hatcheries. Very much more economical and efficient work could be accomplished if there were a Federal fish hatchery in your State. The bureau thinks that for the proper development and conservation of the fishery resources of New Mexico it is highly desirable that it should be provided with a local hatchery; and we shall heartily indorse a bill to that end. Your attention is respectfully invited to the opportunity for successful fish-culture work and for the establishment of attractive fishing resorts afforded by irrigation reservoirs. These waters, when stocked and maintained with suitable fishes by this bureau, and when fishing therein is conducted under liberal regulations, approved by the Federal authorities and enforced by the State, will become sources of food supply of great immediate and prospective importance. I have taken the liberty to bring this matter to your attention because of the feeling that you are interested in increasing the number and variety of food and game fishes inhabiting the waters of your State. Respectfully, yours, H. M. SMITH, Commissioner. Oklahoma.-A fish hatchery for the State of Oklahoma was included in the report of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee to Congress in the Sixty-third Congress, on the following recommendation from the Bureau of Fisheries: "An area of country a thousand miles long from north to south and 600 miles wide, near the center of which is the State of Oklahoma, is now without any Federal fish-cultural station. Existing hatcheries in South Dakota, Colorado, southern Texas, and Missouri can not produce enough fish to supply the local demand and stock the intervening waters." Michigan.-A fish hatchery for the State of Michigan is recommended in the following letter of date February 15, 1916, to Hon. Frank D. Scott from Dr. Hugh M. Smith, Commissioner of Fisheries: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, BUREAU OF FISHERIES, Washington, February 15, 1916. Hon. FRANK D. SCOTT, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Confirming the verbal statement made on the occasion of your recent visit to this office, I beg to say that the bureau is very much in favor of establishing one or more fish-cultural stations in the upper part of the lower peninsula of Michigan, and it is believed that Charlevoix will be the most logical point for the location of a station. As you are aware, the bureau is now conducting fish-cultural operations at Charlevoix, but its facilities, consisting of a small hatchery, are not adequate to care for the large numbers of eggs obtained in that field. Consequently it is necessary to transfer large numbers of lake trout eggs to the Northville station for partial development and return a portion of them to Charlevoix just before the hatching period, în order to facilitate the distribution of the fry. This method entails considerable expense which could be avoided by the establishment of a larger station at Charlevoix. It may also be stated that the bureau some years ago located an auxiliary whitefish egg-collecting station on Charity Island in Saginaw Bay, Mich., the green eggs taken there being shipped to the Detroit hatchery for incubation. Inasmuch as the run of whitefish in the Detroit River is declining, it would possibly be very desirable to establish a whitefish station in the Saginaw Bay district. Any steps taken by you toward the authorization of the establishment of a fishcultural station at Charlevoix or at Bay City will fully meet with the approval of this office. I take this occasion to express my appreciation of your interest in the work of this bureau. Very, truly, yours, H. M. SMITH, Commissioner. Illinois. A fish hatchery for the State of Illinois was included in the omnibus bill reported from the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the Sixty-third Congress, on the following recommendation from the Commissioner of Fisheries of date March 19. 1914: "While the bureau has for many years been conducting fish-cultural work in Illinois, it has had no real establishment there and has not been able to give to the valuable fishing industry of the State the aid which is demanded. It is the desire of the bureau to continue and greatly extend the rescue operations now being conducted in the overflow waters of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and also to engage in the actual propagation of the commercial fishes, on the taking of which many thousand people are now dependent for a livelihood." The commissioner appeared before the committee and stated that the department was still in favor of a hatchery being established in Illinois. State of Maryland or Virginia.-A fish hatchery for the special study of fish diseases and problems in propagation of fish was included in the omnibus bill reported from the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the Sixty-third Congress on the following recommendation from the Secretary of Commerce: |