struction and Repair of the Navy Department. At the request of the Government of El Salvador, Central America, a survey of their fishery resources was made by one of the scientific assistants and a report submitted. In cooperation with the Fisheries Conservation Board of North Carolina, work has been begun on an investigation of the mullet and shrimp fisheries of the South Atlantic and Gulf States. Very truly yours, HENRY O'MALLEY, Commissioner of Fisheries. .gnts. .nlighted LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Hon. HERBERT HOOVER, Secretary of Commerce. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: In response to your request, I furnish the following condensed report upon the work of the service during the past year: MORE IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES OF THE LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE DURING THE YEAR Four additional radio fog-signal stations were established during the year on lightships at Boston, Mass., Nantucket Shoals, Mass., Swiftsure Bank, Wash., and Columbia River, Oreg., a total of 11 such stations being in operation at the close of the fiscal year, with 3 additional light vessels equipped for relief. A new lightship now ready for service on Five Fathom Bank, N. J., was also equipped for use as a radio fog-signal station, and the further extension of this system is planned. Investigations have been carried on for the improvement of radio aids to navigation. Tests have been made of tube transmitters for radio fog-signal stations, developed to take the place of the spark transmitters in use, and other plans developed for increasing the efficiency of the radio fog signal as an aid to naviga tion. The tube transmitter was placed in service April 23 on Ambrose Channel Lightship and is in successful operation. Increased interest in radio fog signals has been shown by mariners and shipowners during the year, and the system is now in practical use by a large number of vessels. Favorable reports and comments by mar iners have been received as to the value to navigation of these signals. At the end of the fiscal year the Lighthouse Service was maintaining a total of 17,288 aids to navigation, a net increase of 395 during the year. Of the total aids, 6,115 are lighted and 8,678 are floating. There are 674 aids in Alaska, an increase of 24 during the year. Progress was continued in extending the automatic system of operating lighted aids. During the year 75 attended lights were changed to automatic and 72 new automatic lights were established. At the end of the fiscal year 43 per cent of all coast and lake lights were automatically operated, at greatly reduced cost of maintenance and without loss of efficiency, as compared with lights attended by rs. Some portions of the personnel of the service have long been in urgent need of readjustment of salary schedules, as has been set forth fully in previous annual reports. An important step toward such relief is the enactment of the classification act of March 4, 1923, which was made effective in the District of Columbia July 1, 1924, and for the field service to a restricted extent. The results of this act and the principles and methods it establishes for the adjustment of the difficult problem of fair compensation are of great value in improving the civil service. The following are the more notable lighthouse construction works during the year: Construction was commenced of the important new light and fog-signal station at Cape Spencer, Alaska. The stations at Guard Island and Point Retreat, Alaska, were rebuilt and much needed powerful fog signals were installed. The construction of a light and fog signal on Sabine Pass Jetty was completed and the station put in commission. Further progress was made on the project for improving aids to navigation on Raritan Bay, N. J. Work was also in progress on projects for improving aids to navigation on the Hudson River, N. Y., and reinforcing the foundations of various light stations on Middle Atlantic coast waters which have been weakened or endangered by action of the sea. Various other important items of lighthouse and depot construction or improvement were completed or in progress during the year, as detailed elsewhere in this report. Five new lightships, having modern equipment, were completed and placed in commission on important stations on the Atlantic coast. The new vessels were much needed to replace old vessels which were worn out and unsafe for service. A new tender for service on the Ohio River and tributaries was also completed and will be placed in commission at an early date. One of the new lightships, equipped with radio fog signal, as well as a powerful steam whistle and a submarine oscillator, was placed on Nantucket Shoals, Mass. The new vessel was specially designed and equipped for this station, which is probably the most important lightship station in the world. The commissioner, at the invitation of the Canadian authorities, made a brief visit to Canada toward the end of the fiscal year and was taken on an inspection trip on a lighthouse tender on the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec, and also visited the headquarters of the department of marine and fisheries at Ottawa. Canada has an extensive and up-to-date lighthouse service, conducted under the department of marine and fisheries, in which are gathered the activities of the Canadian Government having to do with marine affairs other than naval. The St. Lawrence is well marked by range lights and other aids, and various matters of interest in connection with this system were noted. Great interest is taken in Canada in the matter of radio aids to navigation and considerable progress has been made. AIDS TO NAVIGATION During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1924, there was a net increase of 395 in the total number of aids to navigation maintained by the Lighthouse Service. There was a net increase of 122 lights, 43 gas buoys, 7 float lights, 19 fog signals, and 204 other unlighted aids. On June 30, 1924, there were maintained by the service 17.98 aids to navigation, including 6,115 lights of all classes and 606 fog signals-not including 161 buoys with whistles and 420 buoys with bells of which 11 are radio signals, 7 are bells operated automatically by gas, and 48 are submarine signals. During the year 34 new aids were established in Alaska, including 20 new lights, 1 gas buoy, 1 gas and bell buoy, 1 fog signal, 6 unlighted buoys, and 5 beacons. The total number of aids to navigation in Alaska on June 30, 1924, was 674, being a net increase of 24 over the preceding year. Improvements in aids to navigation in the service generally have been made during the year as follows: 46 fixed lights were changed to flashing or occulting, the illuminant of 3 lights was changed to incandescent oil vapor, the illuminant of 68 lights (including 1 light vessel and 28 lighted buoys) was changed to acetylene, the illuminant of 41 lights (including 5 light vessels) was changed to electric incandescent; 506 aids to navigation of various classes were discontinued during the year. The discontinuance of further aids is under investigation from time to time as the original necessity for their maintenance ceases, and in that event they are promptly put out of commission, in the case of lights, with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce. Fog signals were established at 10 important stations, and the fog signals at 10 other important stations were improved by the installation of more efficient apparatus. Four radio fog-signal sta tions were established. General repairs required for upkeep of aids to navigation in efficient working condition were continued during the year so far as available funds permitted, but the funds available were not sufficient for the proper upkeep of this large amount of public property and much important repair work was therefore deferred. Various special works were actively carried on during the year. including the establishment of important light and fog-signal sta tions, the construction of new light vessels and tenders, improve ments in systems of fixed aids and buoyage, etc. ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION The more important items of construction completed during the fiscal year were the transfer of an unused keeper's dwelling from Ned Point Light Station to Wings Neck Light Station, Mass., including the installation of a heating system and other necessary improvements; a wharf and three boathouses at Lewes, Del., for the joint use of the third, fourth, and fifth lighthouse districts; riprap protection for four light stations in the fifth district; a light and fog-signal station at Sabine Pass Jetty, La.; riprap protection placed about Sand Island Light Station, Ala.; a reinforced concrete bulkhead wharf at San Juan lighthouse depot, P. R.; the construction of a roadway at Point Borinquen light station, P. R.; im provements at Detroit lighthouse depot, Mich., including a reinforced concrete wharf, the construction of an addition to the lamp shop, 3 building for storage of cement and other materials, and other im provements; placing a protective belt around the pier at Spectacle Reef Light Station, Mich.; improvements at Chicago Harbor, Ill: 0 D L improving aids at Indiana Harbor, Ind.; rebuilding the Guard Island and Point Retreat Light and Fog-signal Stations, Alaska. Other important works in active progress at the close of the fiscal year included the following: Improving aids to navigation in the Hudson River, N. Y.; placing riprap protection about certain light stations in the third lighthouse district; establishing and improving aids to navigation in Raritan Bay and connected waters, New York and New Jersey; improving aids to navigation, Delaware Bay entrance; repairing and rebuilding aids to navigation, Atlantic coast, damaged by storm and ice; aids to navigation on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay and tributaries; establishing and improving aid in St. Johns River, Fla.; repairing and rebuilding aids to navigation in seventh lighthouse district; repairing and improving aids and establishing new aids to navigation on coasts of Florida and in approaches to Key West, Fla.; establishing and improving aids in Galveston Bay and Houston Channel, Tex.; improving aids to navigation at Conneaut Harbor, Ohio, and Erie Harbor, Pa.; preparation for completing work in Detroit River; placing a protective belt around Stannard Rock Light Station Pier, Mich.; improving aids at Calumet Harbor, Ill.: constructing keeper's dwelling at Manitowoc, Wis.; establishing and improving aids at Ludington, Mich.; constructing a light and fog signal at Cape Spencer, Alaska; improvements at Coquille River Light Station, Oreg.; improvements at Grays Harbor Light Station, Wash.; and the construction of a light and fog signal at Point Vincente, Calif. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT Important progress has been made in the installation and use of radio fog signals for protection of navigation in fog. Investigation was continued with a view to lessening or eliminating the effect of interference. To this end a tube transmitter operating an alternating continuous wave was developed and tested and later installed on a lightship. This transmitter has proved satisfactory and is being used on other installations now under way. Radiotelephone equipment was installed on the tender Cedar, for use in communicating with stations equipped with radiotelephones. Radiotelephones have also been established at two stations in the eleventh district and preparations made for similar installations at two other stations in that district where other means of communication are not available. Radiotelephone apparatus has also been installed at an isolated station in the eighteenth district for communication with a station on shore. The extension and improvement of automatic lighting apparatus was continued. This system has been applied economically and with increased efficiency to minor lights heretofore operated by personal attendants. Primary electric batteries and small incandescent lamps for minor lighted aids have been installed at several stations, with indications of satisfactory service when the apparatus is finally perfected. Experiments were made with flexible mantles for incandescent oil vapor lights, with a view to increasing efficiency and to avoid break |