_#The Fish Commission.#_—­The Fish Commission was created by act of Congress in 1870.  Its chief is the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries.  There is also an Assistant Commissioner.  This Commission stands in the same relation to the fishery interests of the country as does the Department of Agriculture to agricultural interests.  Both are scientific and practical departments.  The former investigates the food, habits and enemies of fishes; experiments concerning the best methods of their capture, the best kind of baits, apparatus, etc.  It collects statistics of fish and fisheries of the whole country.  Probably its most important service is the propagation and distribution of food fishes.  Under its direction are hatched and liberated millions of the young of the best food fishes in the various inland waters of the United States.  Rivers suitable for black bass, shad, carp, or other food fishes, but not having them in their waters, are supplied.  For these purposes the Commission owns and manages various fish hatcheries, fish distributing vessels and cars, propagating ponds, etc.

The yearly appropriation for carrying on this work amounts to nearly a quarter of a million of dollars.

_#The Civil Service Commission.#_—­To correct the wasteful and demoralizing spoils system, in vogue ever since the first administration of Jackson, Congress passed, January 16, 1883, “an act to regulate and improve the Civil Service of the United States.”  Under the provisions of this act, the President appoints three commissioners, only two of whom may be of the same political party, to administer the act.  It is one of the duties of this Commission to provide examinations for testing the fitness of applicants for public service.  Appointments in those branches of the government coming under this act can only be made from persons who have passed the civil service examination successfully.  Adherence to one or the other political parties has little weight in the selection of employes.  Under the regulation of this act are:  the nine executive departments at Washington, the Civil Service Commission itself, the customs districts, eleven in number, in each of which there are fifty or more employes, all postoffices in which there are fifty or more employes, and the Railway Mail Service; including altogether about 28,500 clerks.

_#The Government Printing Office.#_—­In order that there may be intelligent legislation and administration, an extensive system of reports is required.  The publications of the federal government are of course very numerous.  Each department, bureau, and division makes an annual report.  The proceedings of Congress are reported verbatim and published.  This printing and binding are done by the government through the government printing office, established for that purpose.  The Bureau of Printing and Engraving, which is under the Treasury Department, does no part of this.  Its duties are limited to those of engraving and printing banknotes, etc.  The chief of the Government Printing Office is styled the Government Printer, and is appointed by the President.