70 



But above and beyond all this there is involved a 

 moral question in wbich fish culturists are concerned, 

 and one which cannot be ignored. As commissioners 

 we must not allow our judgment to be overcome by a 

 desire to hatch and distribute more fish than our 

 neighbor, simply for the credit which may be derived 

 from a printed record, regardless of the fact whether 

 the fish thus planted are liberated under conditions 

 warranting any hope of success. We must remember 

 that we are not alone fish culturists, we must further 

 remember that we are citizens who are interested in a 

 proper application of public funds for the benefit of the 

 whole people, and we should see to it that public 

 funds are not diverted into channels where, by the 

 natural and artificial conditions surrounding them, it is 

 clearly apparent nothing or but little can be expected 

 in return. 



There was a time in American fish culture when it 

 was honestly believed that restocking by artificial 

 propagation, without any other intervention, would 

 restore depleted waters. But that time has passed, 

 and we know after an experience of years, that 

 common precautions are demanded of this enterprise 

 as of all others. We, of the great lake region, have 

 had forced uj)on us the fact that while to-day we are 

 planting millions of fish in good condition in the lakes, 

 we are hopelessly handicapped as to the results by the 

 war of wanton destruction waged upon the fisheries by 

 the netters, who say we will take fish in season and out 

 of season, we will take them by any and all kind of 

 devices, and nobody must say us nay, it is a matter of 

 no concern to us whether there are fish for those who 

 come after us; after us comes the judgment. 



If by concert of action in the direction I have 

 pointed out we can secure legislation which shall 

 properly protect the work we are doing, the right of 



