52 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
to be expected that the welcome extended in this city to the members of this 
congress would be, as it has been, most warm and cordial. 
The well-chosen words with which the Acting Secretary of State, Mr. Adee, 
received the delegates, and the timely and thoughtful address of the Secretary of 
Commerce and Labor, as well as the hearty manner in which Commissioner West 
extended the city’s welcome, were but a forerunner of the enthusiastic way in 
which this congress was to be treated. No less hearty was the reception accorded 
to its members by His Excellency President Roosevelt, the honored head of this 
nation, whose warm hand grasp and frank and eloquent utterances were indic- 
ative that he was in hearty approval of the labors of this congress. These 
indications, as well as the interest shown in the work of this convention by the 
enlightened press of this city, and the facilities and advantages afforded by the 
well-established libraries and museums of Washington, no doubt have con- 
tributed to spur on the investigation and resolution of the subjects here for 
discussion. 
And let me not forget, among the advantages enjoyed by us, the timely 
election made of our president and secretary. I know full well that Mr. Bumpus 
and Mr. Smith are not fishing for compliments, but I can assure you that we 
gathered in our nets the best president and secretary that we could have selected. 
Under such auspicious circumstances the work of this congress has gone on, 
and when such work shall be finished I think that all of you will say with me 
that we are proud to be members of the Fourth International Fishery Congress, 
and to have contributed, even if it is but by our close attention and hearty 
applause, to tne far-reaching and important labors of those who organized this 
gathering and carried it on to a successful conclusion. 
Thanking all of you for your kind attention, as also for the undeserved honor 
of having been selected as one of your vice-presidents, I again convey to you 
Mexico’s greetings and good wishes. 
The PRESIDENT. Secretary-General Smith has a communication from 
Ecuador. 
The SECRETARY-GENERAL. I have had placed in my hand by Sefior Don 
Esteban F. Carbo, who represents the Republic of Ecuador, a communication, 
which, with your permission, I will read: : 
HONORABLE DELEGATES: As delegate for Ecuador to the International Fisheries 
Congress, I have the honor to call your illustrious attention toward a new and hitherto 
unknown field of activity for the interesting, valuable, and productive industry of 
fisheries. I speak with reference to Ecuadorian waters, and especially of the Colon 
Archipelago (Galapagos Islands), which belongs to the Republic of Ecuador and is situated 
about 500 nautical miles from the coast of said country, and enjoys the old and well 
merited reputation for its magnificent geographical position, its splendid climate, smooth 
seas which surround it, and for the abundant and choice resources in turtles, grouper 
(known by the native name of mero), and infinite and rich varieties of other fish. The 
Government of Ecuador is ready to extend all facilities and its decided support to the 
enterprise or enterprises which will propose to dedicate themselves to the fisheries of the 
