your journal a real live magazine, full of 

 meat for every one. If you can suggest 

 any improvements, by all means do so, 

 we want to please all. Don't say, "We 

 have officers to run that affair, why 

 should I bother?" The man who needs 

 a title to spur him to endeavor, is a poor 

 member of any organization, be it social 

 or intellectual. The old adage, "Many 

 hands make labor light", applies forcibly 

 to you. Emulate the ctrenuous T. R., 

 even though you do not embrace his 

 political convictions; throw your hat into 

 the ring that has been prepared for you, 

 put your shoulder to the wheel, and 

 work indefatigably in the interests of 

 your hobby. 



If the support we expect is forthcoming 

 the magazine will increase in value, 

 scope, and size. The size at present 

 will be governed entirely by our re- 

 sources. If the wherewithal and copy 

 are available for a sixteen-page issue, 

 such will be published. On the other 

 hand, it may contain but eight pages. 

 However, an efTort will be made to 

 maintain an average of twelve pages. 

 It should be borne in mind that the 

 valvie of a magazine, like the value of 

 many other things, does not necessarily 

 depend upon its size, but upon the con- 

 tents. If there is a place for this little 

 bark on the £reat seas of Natural 

 History journalism, and we feel there is, 

 it should grow and keep apace with the 

 demands of American aquarists. 



In Europe many periodicals are pvib- 

 lished on aquaria and aquatic life. 

 Surely in the great United States there 

 is room for at least one. Can it be said 

 that the American nation is too utilarian 

 to support a periodical that is devoted 

 to a hobby that is purely intellectual? 

 Let us disprove such a suggestion. In 

 this immense country nothing is im- 

 possible. The day of the aquarium in 

 America is just dawning, compared to 

 its development across the Atlantic. 



Every little effort you put forth in the 

 interest of your study, your magazine 

 and your club, will add a bright ray to 

 that dawn of great promise. Little 

 efforts pave the way for greater things. 



The sincere thanks of every society 

 member is due to the former manage- 

 ment of the paper. The admirable 

 manner in which the magazine has been 

 edited, managed and printed in the past, 

 should call forth the approbation of all. 

 It is to be greatly regretted that the ill- 

 ness and subsequent death of Mr. Smith 

 rendered a change necessary in the 

 office of Editor-in-Chief. Mr. Smith 

 by reason of his extensive store of know- 

 ledge of fish and aquaria was peculiarly 

 fitted for the position which gave him so 

 much pleasure. With this change, it 

 seemed desirable that the Business 

 Manager be in close personal contact 

 with the Editor-in-Chief, hence Mr. De 

 Voe resigned in favor of Mr. Schenk. 

 For similar reasons the magazine will 

 hereafter be printed under the super- 

 vision of the Editor-in-Chief in Ham- 

 mond, Indiana. The position of Treas- 

 urer has been created and will be filled 

 by Mr. F. S. Young of Chicago. 



To much praise cannot be given the 

 gentlemen who have so willingly, and 

 cheerfully given their valuable time and 

 knowledge to a work that is purely a 

 labor of love. Mr. Innes' great interest 

 in the project led him to give his per- 

 sonal attention to the publication of the 

 magazine, with the result that the paper 

 has been a perfect example of the 

 printers art. We move a rising vote of 

 thanks to Messrs. Smith, De Voe and 

 Innes. 



To the attentive eye, each moment 

 of the year has its own beauty, and in 

 the same field it beholds every hour, a 

 picture which was never seen before, 

 and which shall never be seen again. 



Emerson. 



