12 American Fisheries Society 



In a crisis like the present one, it is quite proper that we should 

 scrutinize our fish laws with a view to ascertaining whether 

 they are sound, and if not, steps should be taken, by legislation 

 if necessary, which will permit the taking of fish to the fullest 

 extent permissible without depleting the annual supply; but all the 

 regulations with reference to the fisheries should be so admin- 

 istered that the annual crop of fish next year and in years to come 

 will be greater than it is this year. Let us hope that we may 

 never be obliged to draw upon our national resources to the extent 

 of depletion, but let us properly conserve our resources now in 

 order that we may be prepared to meet any emergencies which 

 may arise in the future. 



There are undoubtedly instances in nearly all states where 

 food fishes, which do not readily take baited hooks, are protected 

 at all times by laws which permit the taking of fish by angling 

 only. In many waters the presence of carp, suckers and other 

 rough fish is a hinderance to the natural reproduction of the 

 species which it is desired to encourage. In such instances the 

 commissioners or those administering the laws should have 

 authority to remove and to permit others to remove such fishes 

 under proper regulations. In other words, the farming of a body 

 of water should be with a view to maximum annual production 

 of the kind of fish crop that it is desired to produce. Fishes 

 which are detrimental to that crop should be treated as vermin. 

 Fortunately this sort of vermin, at the present time, is a valuable 

 food resource if made available. 



I do not imagine that you expected a dissertation on pro- 

 tection in connection with the restocking of waters, but you will 

 agree with me that regulations are as essential to the attainment 

 of results as is fish culture in all its phases. 



Fish Commissioners come and go. I am sorry to say that I 

 have seen only a few here today whom I have met at earlier 

 conventions, which I have attended during the past twenty-seven 

 years. Now what shall we do to overcome this condition? We 

 have good men on the Boards of Commissioners, who are serious 

 minded, self sacrificing and public spirited. When first appointed 

 most of them know very little about conservation, either fish 

 cultural or protective. The more they are connected with the 

 work the more interested they become and the more they realize 



