Sixth Annual Meeting. 49 



ON THE FISHERIES OF HOLLAND. 



C. J. Bottfman, Superintendent of Fisheries in Holland, 

 said : 



I am sorry that Mr. Milner, in his explanation of protective 

 legislation with regard to fisheries, did not speak of Holland. 

 the great land of fishing, where there have been of late great 

 changes in the laws. There has been great trouble from having 

 no enforcement of the laws ; but since 1869 this state of things 

 has greatly altered, so much so, that the rivers that in i860 gave 

 only about 37,000, were increased simply by legislation, and at the 

 same time trying artificial culture, from 37,000 to 150,000 in 1872. 

 That proves what legislation can do. They have lately begun 

 in Holland to establish the business of fish culturists, men who 

 have nothing to do except with fisheries, and that is just what 

 we need here, and what we need not only for one State, but 

 for the whole country. 



Mr. William M. Tileston said : 



The trouble, so far as our own State is concerned, is, I think, 

 that we have too much legislation. You may be aware that in 

 the game-laws of our State there is an unfortunate clause which 

 has been the cause of a great deal of trouble — one that permits 

 the supervisors of counties to make their own laws and regula- 

 tions with regard to fish and game, provided they do not conflict 

 with the general laws. But this point has been overlooked, and 

 the supervisors of many counties have passed ordinances in 

 conflict with State laws, and the result is that both are nullified, 

 and that nothing can be done. With regard to Owasco Lake, 

 Cayuga county has had more legislation than any county in 

 the State, and yet there is more spearing of fish out of season 



