Forty-third Annual Meeting 33 



measure at least the details of the plans which the 

 Society shall inaugurate with those objects in view. 1 

 should wish to resign the office and run away at the 

 present moment if it were not that you have wisely 

 and thoughtfully associated with me gentlemen whose 

 knowledge is so much broader than my own, whose 

 experience is so much greater, and whose success in 

 various fields is so clear that I feel some measure of 

 confidence at our being able together to accomplish 

 something within the year to come. 



Two or three years ago, our Treasurer informed us 

 that we faced a considerable deficit. The membership 

 had not increased. The Society was not able to carry 

 on even the normal round of activities which it had fol- 

 lowed out for a number of years previous. At the 

 present time the deficit has been practically wiped out, 

 the membership has been tremendously increased, and, 

 best of all, the interest and enthusiasm of the members 

 has been multiplied many times. No one could ask for 

 an opportunity to go into the Board of Officers in any 

 more propitious time than the present. I am confident 

 that it will be possible in various ways, within the neai* 

 future, to exercise an even greater influence. The hard 

 work in building up an organization, the difficult task 

 of supporting it through a period of unfortunate decline 

 or standstill, is always the beginning. After the mem- 

 bership commences to increase, after the condition of the 

 Society has reached the point where it is normal, activi- 

 ties can be carried on without danger. The gentlemen 

 who have presided in the past have provided these con- 

 ditions for the officers for the coming year. 



Perhaps nothing has appealed to me more strongly, in 

 listening to the record of this year, than the paper by 

 Dr. Smith — the idea advanced with reference to the 

 education of the fisherfolk along fishery lines. I shall 

 not speak further on this, because, in the discussion that 

 followed, a Committee was appointed for that purpose. 

 I merely call it to your attention, to impress it more 

 forcibly, if possible, upon the minds of every member, 



