4:1 



passed in the society of men whose acquaintance was 

 sufficient proof of the esteem in which his talents were 

 held, and the friendship of such men was ample evi- 

 dence of his moral worth. His amiable temper, agree- 

 able manner, and unaffected benevolence inspired all 

 who knew him with esteem and regard. He was one 

 of the most enthusiastic and successful anglers of our 

 times. At the green old age of ninety he could bring 

 to his net the gamiest black bass known in the rapidly 

 flowing streams of our Western country, and he had that 

 sweet and amiable disposition characteristic of all true 

 anglers, that v.'hether fish were wont to take his lure or 

 not, he considered that "No recreation was so harmless 

 and which had so many rational inducements to health 

 and true enjoyment as angling." After a tedious win- 

 ter's session of Congress he and Daniel Webster found 

 relief in angling for salmon in the Kennebec and trout 

 in the various streams of Massachusetts. He was a 

 companion of John Quincy Adams and Henr}^ Cla}-, 

 and sat at the bedside of the great Kentuckian when 

 his spirit took its flight. He was a life-long compan- 

 ion of the late Chief Justice Waite and Allen G. Thur- 

 man. The unselfishness of his life was most remark- 

 able. There are different degrees of unselfishness. 

 There are good men who are willing to devote them- 

 selves to a great cause if they may choose the part of 

 the work that suits them ; Mr. Potter had no choice. 

 All that he asked was that the service was needed. 

 No life can have a loftier purpose than his. His 

 genial sympath}' and good-nature attracted every per- 

 son and every interest of the whole conimunit}^ No 

 consciousness of high political honors lifted him above 

 his neighbors. A great man is ahvays greater than 

 any one of his actions. 



The object of the American Fisheries Society is to 

 devise means to restore to the lakes, rivers, and streams 

 in this countr}' the food fish supply. The members. 



