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us receive or ask, and it is a useless expenditure of 

 public funds. Had we not in Michigan lived in the 

 hope that each succeeding legislature would pass the 

 legislation pointed out as necessary, we should long 

 ago have recommended that the hatching of com- 

 mercial fish be dropped. 



What then should be done? In our opinion every 

 state and government engaged in the artificial propa- 

 gation of commercial fish on the grreat lakes should 

 agree to discontinue the work until the fisheries are 

 given such protection as will insure results of benefit. 

 Fish culture has its uses, but if the object for which 

 commissions are created, viz. : to restore and maintain 

 the fisheries, is to be met with methods which eive it 

 no chances of success, further planting should cease 

 until a more enlightened public sentiment shall demand 

 the correction of existing abuses, or until the public 

 pulse has been sufficiently quickened to the necessities 

 of proper regulation to demand the passage of just 

 restrictive laws. 



It seems to me it is entirely within the province and 

 duty of this society to put itself on record upon such 

 an important question as this, as upon all other kind- 

 red questions affecting the fisheries. I believe that the 

 seal of condemnation of this society, which is largely 

 composed of fish culturists and of those who sympathize 

 with our purposes, should be placed upon everything 

 which hinders or defeats the success of fish culture. 

 The lake states are not alone concerned in this 

 question. Immense quantities of white fish and 

 Salman trout are sent from the lake ports all over the 

 United States, they are found upon the bill of fare of 

 every first class hotel and restaurant in the land in 

 their season, and the destruction of these fisheries 

 means the elimination of a wholesome food from the 

 table of all. 



