FORTY-SEVENTH CONGEESS, 1881-1883. 879 



occasion we are invited to see what other countries are doing in par- 

 ticular lines. When anything is said about the American Army we 

 are at once shown the great disproportion between our Army and that 

 of European countries. Whenever a criticism on the American Navy 

 is made, it brings out a presentation of the fact that certain European 

 nations have vast numbers of powerfully armed ships, as if all of these 

 were intended as an argument why we, occupying our position, should 

 do the same. We are constantly shown these things. I would turn 

 away from them. I would turn to the history of the past; I would 

 follow our own time-honored policy, and let these interests remain in 

 the hands of the people, where they ought to be, instead of in a fish 

 commission. Vote this down, but give every dollar necessary to mul- 

 tiply the fish supplies for the people of this country. 



I will reserve the remainder of my time. 



Mr. C. G. Williams, of Wisconsin. I yield now two minutes to the 

 gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Rice]. 



Mr. W. W. Rice, of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, under the patron- 

 age of the Government our mechanics and manufacturers have com- 

 peted in national expositions with the citizens of the Old and the New 

 Worlds, and even with those wonderful communities which have sprung 

 up on the continental islands beneath the Southern Cross, and they have 

 always won glory, honor, and profit from such competitions. 



Now, the gentleman from Georgia comes here and would have us 

 believe that all of these are but mere junketing expeditions. I trust, 

 sir, that the men who are pushing to the front the industry of Geor- 

 gia will teach him that there is something else in these international 

 contests than mere pleasure trips or junketing expeditions. This 

 exposition differs from the others only in that it has a bearing upon a 

 single special interest and industry. What is that? It is the fish 

 industry; it is an industry which is maintained by the men who won 

 the fishing grounds to the country in the early days of this nation's 

 existence, and whose rights were protected by the statesmen of the 

 Revolution, and who to-day in their hardy pursuits are ready, with 

 our flag at the masthead, to bear it out in triumph over the seas 

 against any power. These are the men whose interests are at stake. 



[Here the hammer fell.] 



Mr. Williams, of Wisconsin. 1 now yield the remainder of the 

 time to the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Kasson]. 



Mr. J. A. Kasson. 1 will yield to the gentleman from Massachu- 

 setts to conclude his remarks. 



Mr. Rice, of Massachusetts. I desire simply to call your attention 

 to another matter in connection with this subject at this thne, and that 

 IS to its interest to the scientific men whose skill has brought to light 

 the secrete of fish-culture, and whose investigations have pushed this 

 country to the -front in the matter of fish propagation and their 



