interested and valuable services of the present Corresponding 

 Secretary. Even if these conditions were permanent, it is 

 hardly fair to throw an undue proportion of the work in ar- 

 ranging for the meeting upon a single ofBcer, however efficient 

 and willing. 



STATE FISHERY COMMISSIONS. 



You are probably all familiar with the organizations em- 

 ployed by the different states in carrying on the business of 

 fish-culture. Nearly all the states, where there is much being 

 done in this art, have commissions composed of from three to 

 seven commissioners. These gentlemen are not always 

 selected on account of their special aptitude for discharging 

 the duties required of them, although generally they are per- 

 sons having some interest in the general subject. My pur- 

 pose is to suggest that a little interest taken in the appoint- 

 ment of new members to the various State Commissions, by 

 persons really interested in fish-culture, as the members of 

 this Society are, would often result in the appointment of 

 really capable men. Any of us who have had the oppor- 

 tunity to see what energetic and intelligent men can accom- 

 plish, when appointed to such a place — having, of course, a 

 thorough interest in fish-culture and believing in its immense 

 ultimate importance to the states — need not think twice to 

 appreciate the need of urging upon the appointing power the 

 selection of the most capable men who can be persuaded to 

 accept the duty. The office of a Fish Commissioner is as 

 much a "public trust " as any other, and is one where the 

 service rendered by a man whom the office seeks is many-fold 

 more fruitful, than of the man who has sought the office for 

 the pleasure to begot of it or the slight patronage which its 

 possession may yield. Here almost every member of the 

 Society can exercise some influence which will be of value to 

 the art of fish-culture as well as a service to his own state. It 

 is worth the trial of each one of us ; and if the members of 

 this Society rendered no other service to the cause of fish- 

 culture than seeking to influence appointments of competent 



