§744. Investigations; fish propagation; investigations of damages by predacious fishes; executive assistance

The Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, shall prosecute investigations and inquiries on the subject, with the view of ascertaining whether any and what diminution in the number of the food fishes of the coast and the lakes of the United States has taken place; and, if so, to what causes the same is due; and also whether any and what protective, prohibitory, or precautionary measures should be adopted in the premises; and shall report upon the same to Congress. He is authorized and directed to conduct investigations and experiments for the purpose of ameliorating the damage wrought to the fisheries by dogfish and other predacious fishes and aquatic animals. Said investigations and experiments shall be such as to develop the best and cheapest means of taking such fishes and aquatic animals, of utilizing them for economic purposes, especially for food, and to encourage the establishment of fisheries and markets for them.

The heads of the several executive departments shall cause to be rendered all necessary and practicable aid to the Secretary in the prosecution of his investigations and inquiries.

(R.S. §§4396, 4397; Mar. 3, 1887, ch. 362, 24 Stat. 523 ; June 21, 1916, ch. 160, §§1, 2, 39 Stat. 232 ; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, §4(e), (f), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, §3, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 62 Stat. 1262; 1970 Reorg. Plan No. 4, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090; Pub. L. 96–470, title I, §101(c), Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2237 .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

R.S. §4396 derived from Res. Feb. 9, 1871, No. 22, §2, 16 Stat. 594.

R.S. §4397 derived from Res. Feb. 9, 1871, No. 22, §3, 16 Stat. 594.

Amendments

1980-Pub. L. 96–470 struck out provision requiring a detailed statement of expenditures under all appropriations for "propagation of fishes" be submitted annually to Congress at the beginning of each session.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Survey of Marine and Fresh-Water Resources

Act May 11, 1944, ch. 195, 58 Stat. 220 , which expired January 1, 1945, provided for a comprehensive survey of all marine, fresh-water, and other aquatic resources of the United States, its Territories, and possessions; and for a report on survey, together with recommendations to Congress. It also appropriated $20,000 to carry out the purposes of the act.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, and Secretary substituted for Director of Fish and Wildlife Service and Director in view of: creation of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Department of Commerce and Office of Administrator of such Administration; abolition of Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in Department of the Interior and Office of Director of such Bureau; transfers of functions, including functions formerly vested by law in Secretary of the Interior or Department of the Interior which were administered through Bureau of Commercial Fisheries or were primarily related to such Bureau, exclusive of certain enumerated functions with respect to Great Lakes fishery research, Missouri River Reservoir research, Gulf Breeze Biological Laboratory, and Trans-Alaska pipeline investigations; and transfer of marine sport fish program of Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Reorg. Plan No. III of 1940, §3, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, consolidated Bureau of Fisheries and Bureau of Biological Survey into one agency in Department of the Interior to be known as Fish and Wildlife Service. It was further provided that functions of consolidated agency should be administered under direction and supervision of Secretary of the Interior by a director and assistants, and that offices of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries and offices of Chief and Associate Chief of Bureau of Biological Survey should be abolished and their functions transferred to consolidated agency.

Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, §4(e), (f), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, transferred Bureau of Fisheries in Department of Commerce and its functions, and Bureau of Biological Survey in Department of Agriculture and its functions, to Department of the Interior, to be administered under direction and supervision of Secretary of the Interior.