scope of tlie Society's work were enlarged from year to 

 year, until we now have a Society embracing within its 

 list of members the most distinguished lish culturists of 

 the world. 



It has broadened out with its growth in membership un- 

 til its original object has been forgotten, and the question 

 of how to best advance purely scientific interests of fish 

 culture and lish distribution and fish protection have be- 

 come of paramount imi^ortance. 



It is unnecessary for me, perhaps, to remind you of how 

 much we have accomplished in the past, for you have all 

 shared in the labors and are acquainted with the facts. 

 There can be no doubt but that the present United States 

 Fish Commission, with its value ajid imj^ortance and its 

 great success, owes its origin and development, in a great 

 measure, to this Society. Papers read at our several an- 

 nual meetings have done more than anything else to stim- 

 ulate the growth of the interests in iish culture and fish 

 protection throughout the United States, and I think we 

 can say, without boasting, that the present advanced con- 

 dition of this science in this country is due, in a large 

 measure, to the work of the American Fisheries Society. 



As illustrative of the practical advance of fish culture 

 and the great results now obtained by it, it may not be out 

 of place for me to give you at this point a brief account of 

 the work of the Commission of which I am the President. 

 This Commission has been remarkably successful, and the 

 past year was one of the best in its history. Its work has 

 been divided into three heads — ^first, fish propagation ; 

 second, fish and game preservation ; third, granting fran- 

 chises for oyster cultivation and jDrotecting natural-growth 

 oyster-beds. 



The first and principal work of the Commission is, of 

 course, the artificial propagation of fish. By the terms of 

 the act creating the Commission, they are to examine the 

 streams and lakes of the State, with a view to stocking 



